By Chris Sommerfeldt
New York Daily News
Two Republicans who recently spent time with President Donald Trump have quarantined themselves after coming in contact with people infected by the coronavirus, meaning five members of Congress are now in insolation over the rapidly spreading respiratory infection.
Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Doug Collins, R-Ga., and Julia Brownsley, D-Calif., all announced Monday that they are going into quarantine after learning they recently met people who have since tested positive for the virus.
Gaetz and Collins, who explicitly described their isolation measures as “self-quarantine,” said over Twitter they met at least one person infected by the coronavirus at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland last month.
Since then, both GOP lawmakers have been in close contact with Trump.
Collins was with Trump during his Friday visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. They were pictured shaking hands during the visit.
Gaetz, meanwhile, flew back to Washington, D.C., from Florida with Trump on Monday.
Both Republicans said they aren’t experiencing any symptoms and quarantining themselves for 14 days out of an abundance of caution.
“While I feel completely healthy and I am not experiencing any symptoms, I have decided to self-quarantine at my home,” Collins said in a statement.
Gaetz drew outrage last week when he posted a picture of himself wearing a gas mask on the House floor before voting on an emergency coronavirus spending bill.
The Florida Republican’s office claimed the gas mask spoof was actually evidence that he takes the viral outbreak seriously.
“Congressman Gaetz had expected COVID-19 to impact Congress, given the elevated frequency of travel and human contact, and demonstrated his concern last week on the House floor,” Gaetz’ official Twitter handle posted.
Brownsley said she was closing her Washington office and planning on working remotely after learning she met a coronavirus patient last week.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar announced Sunday that they were also going into quarantine after meeting people infected by the coronavirus at last month’s CPAC event.
Cruz’s office said Monday that the Lone Star State Republican “feels great.”
“Sen. Cruz has not exhibited symptoms of the coronavirus in the last 11 days and is not currently experiencing symptoms,” his office said.
