Retiring Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), the incoming White House chief of staff, became on Monday the latest conservative lawmaker to self-quarantine after coming into contact with someone at CPAC 2020 who tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Details: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Reps. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) also self-quarantined after the conservative conference encounter. Meanwhile, Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) said she closed her office in Washington, D.C., is working remotely and "maintaining social distancing practices" after meeting with a person in D.C. last week who tested positive for COVID-19.
- All of the lawmakers who've placed themselves in isolation for 14 days stress they have shown no symptoms of the virus and are taking the action as a precautionary measure.
The big picture: The attendee from the CPAC conference in Maryland Feb. 26–29 is in quarantine and under medical care in New Jersey after returning a positive result on Saturday.
- President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence spoke at the event. Pence told reporters Monday he had not taken a test for the virus.
- The White House released a statement later Monday saying, "The President has not received COVID-19 testing because he has neither had prolonged close contact with any known confirmed COVID-19 patients, nor does he have any symptoms."
Of note: Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) are reintroducing a 2013 bill that would enable Congress members to "virtually participate in committee hearings and vote remotely on suspension bills from their home districts amid the coronavirus outbreak," per Axios' Alayna Treene, who obtained an advanced copy of the press release announcing the move.
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Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
