Lawmakers’ “safe room” may have been full of coronavirus, Capitol doc warns [Updated]

Enlarge / Workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) clean an entry to the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021. (credit: Getty | Bloomberg)

UPDATE 1/11/2021 1:15pm EST: Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) announced Monday that she has received a positive rapid antigen test for COVID-19. Rep. Watson Coleman was reportedly in the crowded safe room during Wednesay's insurrection, where many of her colleagues were maskless. According to a statement released by her office, Watson Coleman believes she was exposed during protective isolation in the US Capitol building as a result of insurrectionist riots." In a separate tweet, she added that she decided to get tested because of the events of Wednesday, including sheltering with several colleagues who refused to wear masks."

Watson Coleman is reportedly in good spirits" with mild, cold-like symptoms." She is in isolation and awaiting a PCR test results to confirm her infection. The original story follows.

Original post, 1/11/2021 11:34am EST: The attending physician to Congress on Sunday sent an alert to lawmakers warning them that they may have been exposed to the pandemic coronavirus while huddled in a safe room during last Wednesday's violent insurrection at the US Capitol by supporters of President Trump.

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