A Texas Republican who has refused to wear a mask while walking through the halls of Congress and attending high-profile hearings with members of the White House administration tested positive for Covid-19.
Louie Gohmert, who just attended a congressional hearing with William Barr, the attorney general, on Tuesday, tested positive for the novel coronavirus while being screened during a White House procedure on Wednesday morning.
House Judiciary Committee chair Jerrold Nadler scolded Republicans at the hearing for taking off their masks – an issue that has sowed controversy on Capitol Hill, with several members of the GOP refusing to wear face coverings while on the job. A growing list of lawmakers have meanwhile tested positive for Covid-19, including Senator Rand Paul (R–Tn), Rep. Tom Rice (R–SC), Rep Mario Diaz Balart (R–Fl) and several others.
Before testing positive for the virus, Mr Gohmert was reportedly set to fly to Texas with Donald Trump. His home state is one of those currently battling a major spike in coronavirus cases as the pandemic continues taking a deadly toll on much of the southern US.
The 66-year-old has been an outspoken opponent of wearing a mask throughout the pandemic, telling CNN in an interview in June: “I keep being tested and I don’t have it. So I’m not afraid of you, but if I get it I’ll wear a mask.”
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has urged everyone to wear a face covering “when they have to go out in public” and “take preventive measures to protect yourself and others” on its website.
Studies have also shown that wearing masks in the US could prevent as many as 33,000 deaths by October.
Mr Gohmert has continued to go about his business in Washington without wearing a face covering on several occasions, most recently seen at Mr Barr’s congressional hearing this week.
While he was not one of the Republicans Mr Nadler reprimanded during the hearing, Mr Gohmert was seen without a mask at the blockbuster testimony. Several lawmakers who sit on the House Judiciary Committee are above the age of 65, potentially exposing them to further risk of complications if they were to contract the novel virus.
Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker, has now announced a mask-wearing mandate along with Capitol authorities. Representatives and staff must wear the face coverings while voting and while in offiices on the site from 8am on Thursday.
