Community Corner
COVID-19 In The Capitol: One Lawmaker Positive For COVID, Another In Quarantine
'At least two Pennsylvania lawmakers say they've been in self-quarantine after exposure to COVID-19.'
By Stephen Caruso, The Pennsylvania Capital-Star:
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May 27, 2020
This breaking story will be updated.
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At least two Pennsylvania lawmakers say they’ve been in self-quarantine after exposure to COVID-19.
In a statement Wednesday, Rep. Andrew Lewis, R-Dauphin, confirmed he has tested positive for the disease.
Find out what's happening in Across Pennsylvaniafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
He is the first lawmaker to be tested positive for the coronavirus.
Another GOP lawmaker, Rep. Russ Diamond, of Lebanon County, told the Capital-Star he was also in self-quarantine due to potential exposure to a positive case at the Capitol.
The revelations come as the House prepared to pass important components of a temporary state budget during the pandemic. The news infuriated House Democrats, who discovered the news hours before Lewis’ statement.
Lewis said he had mild flu symptoms, was tested on May 18, and received a positive result on May 20. He was last in the Capitol on May 14.
Lewis said he informed House Republican human resources, and began self-quarantine. He said he has since completed isolation.
“I can confirm every member or staff member who met the criteria for exposure was immediately contacted and required to self-isolate for 14 days from their date of possible exposure,” Lewis said in a statement.
Diamond told the Capital-Star that the House Republican human resources office informed him in an email that he had been in touch with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 on May 21.
He said he is currently on his last day in quarantine, and did not get tested because he “did not have symptoms.”
“I had tons of meetings and in person things,” Diamond said. “I had a guy coming in to help with my house. I cancelled all that stuff.”
The contact came on May 14, Lewis’ last day in the Capitol.
Diamond received the notification after 5 pm on May 21. That morning, Diamond testified before a House committee on his resolution to end Gov. Tom Wolf’s health emergency.
According to video of the meeting, he did not wear a mask.
This story was originally published by the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. For more stories from the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, visit PennCapital-Star.com.
