House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tested negative for the coronavirus on Friday, a step she took “out of an abundance of caution” after President Trump tested positive.
Out of an abundance of caution, Speaker Pelosi was tested for COVID-19 this morning by the Capitol’s Office of the Attending Physician. Dr. Monahan just informed the Speaker that she tested negative.
— Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) October 2, 2020
Mrs. Pelosi, California Democrat, sat down with Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin earlier this week to negotiate on coronavirus economic relief. A Treasury Department spokesperson said the secretary tested negative Friday morning.
The House is still in session Friday, with two votes still on the agenda. They’ve been conducting votes via a series of small groups and remote proxy voting.
Texas Democrat Rep. Joaquin Castro pleaded with his fellow lawmakers to stay away if they might have been exposed.
To any members of Congress who were in close quarters with the President recently — please don’t come to work today.
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) October 2, 2020
That’s why we put in place proxy voting during this pandemic.
Sincerely,
A Co-worker.
There is not a widespread, comprehensive testing program on Capitol Hill, though there is a mask mandate.
Mrs. Pelosi said that the Capitol physician has a follow-up contact-tracing plan for the building.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
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