Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., announced Thursday they are temporarily closing their Capitol Hill offices after a staffer in the office of Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., tested positive for the coronavirus, The Hill is reporting.
"In response to reports that an aide from another Senate office has tested positive for COVID-19, Sen. Cruz has temporarily closed the D.C. office out of an abundance of caution to protect the health and welfare of staff, constituents, and colleagues in Congress," Cruz's office said in a statement.
Cruz has been under self-quarantine after coming into contact with a virus-positive individual at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference.
His office says Cruz is healthy and will end his quarantine Thursday night.
Cotton said he was closing his office "effective immediately."
"An aide in another Senate office has tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus; other congressional employees are likely to test positive in the days ahead," he said. "The most sensible course of action for the public and the congressional workforce under the circumstances is for my staff to telecommute."
Cantwell's staffer is the first known congressional worker to catch the virus, according to the New York Post. Cantwell also has temporarily closed her office.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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