Republican Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole on Thursday announced that he will self-quarantine after coming in contact with another member of Congress who has since tested positive for coronavirus.
“While I have no symptoms and feel fine, I was around him for an extended period last week. Out of an abundance of caution, I am following the doctor’s instructions to self-quarantine,” Cole said in a statement. He added that he will self-quarantine until March 27. (RELATED: Here Are All The Members Of Congress Who Have Self-Quarantined Due To Coronavirus)
Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) listens during a House Rules Committee hearing concerning the articles of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump, at the U.S. Capitol on December 17, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
A number of members of Congress in both the House and the Senate have announced they are self-quarantining as coronavirus continues to spread throughout the U.S. Many Republican Congressmen decided to self-quarantine after meeting the individual who attended the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) while infected with coronavirus.
Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was the first to announce the self-quarantine, saying that he will be staying home in Texas for the week after he was informed that he met the individual who attended CPAC who is infected with coronavirus. (RELATED: Ted Cruz To Stay Home In Texas For One Week After Saying He Met Person With Coronavirus At CPAC)
Cruz made it clear in a statement that he has not had any symptoms since the interaction at the conference and that it was a quick conversation and a handshake, but he said in order to be safe he will be staying home instead of returning back to Washington D.C. Cruz also said he has spoken with health officials across the board.
A number of members of Congress have received tests for coronavirus. President Donald Trump received a test for the virus, which came back negative. Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham on Sunday also announced that he tested negative for coronavirus.