WASHINGTON (AP) – House legislators may have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 while sheltering in an undisclosed location during the Capitol siege by a violent crowd loyal to President Donald Trump.
The Capitol’s assistant physician notified all lawmakers on Sunday of exposure to the virus and asked to be tested. The infected individual was not identified.
Dr. Brian Moynihan wrote that “many members of the Casa community were in protective isolation in the large room – some for several hours” on Wednesday. He said that “the individuals may have been exposed to another occupant with coronavirus infection”.
Dozens of lawmakers were quickly taken to safety after pro-Trump rebels invaded the Capitol that day, breaking through barricades to roam the halls and offices and looting the building.
Some members of Congress huddled for hours in the great room, while others stayed for a shorter period.
No further details were given as to which person tested positive for the virus.
Some lawmakers and officials were furious after the video of Republican lawmakers not wearing their masks in the room during the blockade.
Georgia’s newly elected deputy Marjorie Taylor Greene, a presidential ally aligned with a pro-Trump conspiracy group, was among Republicans who did not wear masks.
Trump is now facing impeachment after inciting supporters who were gathering near the White House before marching to the Capitol. The House can vote impeachment in a matter of days, less than two weeks before Democratic President-elect Joe Biden took office on January 20.
A Capitol Police officer died after being hit in the head by a fire extinguisher when protesters stormed the building and many other policemen were injured. A California woman was shot dead by the Capitol Police and three others died after medical emergencies during the chaos.
Authorities on Sunday announced the death of a 51-year-old Capitol police officer. Two people familiar with the matter said the policeman’s death was an apparent suicide. Officer Howard Liebengood had been assigned to the Senate Division and had been in the department since 2005. He is the son of a former Senate arms sergeant.
It was not clear whether his death was related to Wednesday’s events.
Officials were not allowed to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
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Associated Press writers Colleen Long and Michael Balsamo contributed to this report.