MICHIGAN — At least eight state representatives and another 21 people who work for the Michigan House of Representatives have had COVID-19 this year, a House spokesman said Wednesday.
The news comes one day after House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, announced the House would not meet in session Wednesday or Thursday after a staff member tested positive for the disease caused by the coronavirus.
To date, the Detroit Free Press is aware of 12 lawmakers from the House or Senate and 37 legislative staff members who have had COVID-19 or were believed to have had a suspected case of the disease.
The numbers only include those who have either publicly disclosed a diagnosis or informed the House they were sick, said Chatfield spokesman Gideon D'Assandro. They do not include Rep. Isaac Robinson, a Detroit Democrat who died in March because of suspected COVID-19 complications.
There are 110 representatives in the House, along with approximately 447 staff members and 20 to 30 interns.
On Monday, a Senate spokesman reported that three senators and 16 employees or interns have reported positive COVID tests to the Senate Business Office.
On Tuesday, Michigan health and safety officials confirmed the state is investigating the House for possible violations of workplace COVID-19 regulations. The inquiry was prompted by an employee complaint, according to the state.
Many lawmakers called on Chatfield to delay session after news that Rudy Giuliani, an attorney for the Trump campaign, was hospitalized with COVID-19 days after he spoke without a mask for hours during a House hearing last week. Chatfield said Giuliani tested negative for COVID-19 before coming to Michigan, but did not specify when he was tested.
The Ingham County Health Department stated in a news release it was "extremely likely" Giuliani was contagious while in Michigan. On Tuesday, Axios reported fellow Trump campaign attorney Jenna Ellis also had COVID-19. Ellis appeared with Giuliani in Michigan and did not wear a mask.
After news of Giuliani's diagnosis, the Michigan Republican Party said Chairman Laura Cox would be tested. She met with Giuliani before the legislative hearing and did not wear a mask.
While the House announced eight lawmakers had COVID-19, the Free Press is only aware of seven who have publicly disclosed a diagnosis.
In late November, Rep. John Chirkun, D-Roseville, and Rep. Kyra Harris Bolden, D-Southfield, confirmed they had COVID-19. House Minority Leader Christine Greig, D-Farmington Hills, said at the time Bolden "was notified by the House Business Office on Nov. 12, 2020, along with several legislators and staff present at the same event, of the COVID-19 exposure from a legislator who wished to remain anonymous."
State Rep. Scott VanSingel, R-Grant, and Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton, also confirmed their own diagnoses in November.
In September, state Rep. Beau LaFave, R-Iron Mountain, announced his own diagnosis. In March, Detroit Democrats Rep. Tyrone Carter and Rep. Karen Whitsett tested positive.
The three senators who have reported positive COVID-19 diagnosis are Sen. Kim LaSata, R-Bainbridge Township, Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, and Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte.
Despite the House's decision to delay session, the state Senate continues to meet this week. There are only three more days this year with the House scheduled to meet in session, posing a potential challenge for passing COVID-19 relief or other legislation before the end of the lame-duck session.
Either chamber could schedule additional sessions as needed in order to pass legislation.
