SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the DFL Party sharply criticized Republican Congressman Jim Hagedorn, Tom Emmer, and Pete Stauber for flying just two days after being exposed to COVID-19.
“By flying so soon after being exposed to COVID-19, Congressmen Emmer, Hagedorn, and Stauber deliberately put the health and safety of their fellow passengers at serious risk,” said DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin. “As these Congressman know, medical experts have said that a negative test soon after exposure is nearly meaningless.”
“Millions of Americans have sacrificed so much to slow the spread of COVID-19, yet Congressmen Emmer, Stauber, and Hagedorn could not even wait a few days to board an airplane,” added Martin. “These Congressmen’s stupidity and disregard for the well-being of their fellow passengers is staggering.”
As infectious disease expert Dr. Michael Osterholm noted earlier today, a negative test so soon after exposure is “almost meaningless”:
“There is no get out of jail card here with one test. If they were exposed in the last 2 to 3 days, they might not actually come down with this infection and be test positive for up to 14 days… we’ve had onsets late, after 7 or 8 days, and test positives after 7 or 8 days, so having a test in those first 3 days after you’ve been exposed is almost meaningless.”