Tag: coronavirus

Incoming White House chief of staff Mark Meadows among lawmakers sidelined by coronavirus concerns

Washington Post logoThe incoming White House chief of staff, Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, was among three Republican congressmen who said Monday that they were quarantining themselves because of suspected contact with a confirmed carrier of the novel coronavirus.

A spokesman, Ben Williamson, said Meadows learned this weekend he “may have come in contact” with the individual who attended the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in suburban Washington late last month. Meadows tested negative for the virus and is not displaying symptoms but is remaining home in self-quarantine until Wednesday, Williamson said in a statement.

Trump named Meadows his chief of staff on Friday evening, replacing Mick Mulvaney. Williamson’s statement did not address whether Meadows physically interacted with Trump since the conference last month. Continue reading.

Trump talks down virus as his properties face possible hit

NEW YORK (AP) — One of President Donald Trump’s first impulses in response to the outbreak of the coronavirus in China was to suggest it was a buying opportunity in the U.S. stock market.

Even as the global peril of the virus has escalated, Trump has leaned hard on his decades of experience as a businessman, keeping his focus on the economy and financial markets and urging people to continue traveling and patronizing U.S. businesses.

“You know, a lot of people are staying here and they’re going to be doing their business here,” he said Friday, as stocks fell again and the tally of infected in the U.S. climbed. “They’re going to be traveling here. And they’ll be going to resorts here.” Continue reading.

Securities and Exchange Commission asks D.C. employees to work from home after coronavirus scare

Washington Post logoThe Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday asked employees at its D.C. headquarters to stay away from the office because of a potential coronavirus case, becoming the first major federal employer to turn to telework to avoid the spreading virus.

The announcement from the agency, which is charged with monitoring the financial markets, came after a day of turmoil on Wall Street, with the Dow Jones industrial average falling more than 2,000 points. The agency‘s notice, which was emailed shortly after 8 p.m., required employees working on the ninth floor of its office to stay home and encouraged all others to do the same.

“Out of an abundance of caution, effective immediately the SEC is requiring all Headquarters personnel (employees and contractors) who work on the 9th floor to telework,” the email to employees read. Continue reading.

Minnesota DFL Issues Update on the Coronavirus and Future Party Events

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, Minnesota DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin issued the following guidance to local DFL organizing units regarding future party events:

“The Minnesota DFL is monitoring the spread of the coronavirus here in Minnesota very closely and will continue to do so throughout this public health crisis. At this time, the Minnesota Department of Health and other public health agencies have not recommended that organizations cancel community gatherings and events. As such, the Minnesota DFL is recommending that party units proceed with conventions while taking the necessary precautions we outlined in earlier correspondence.

“The Minnesota DFL leadership and staff are working closely with the national party, as well as our Constitution, Rules, and Bylaws Committee to explore all contingencies in the event that the guidance from public health officials changes. The DFL will explore all options to allow our party units to conduct the important business of our party while also keeping our party members and the public safe.

“Rest assured that the Minnesota DFL’s decision-making process will be guided first and foremost by the well-being of the members of our party and the recommendations of medical experts and the scientific community. We will continue to keep you updated as we learn more.”

 

Unsettling day provides little coronavirus guidance for Congress

Leaders, officials disagree on who makes the call to change security and health protocols on the Hill

On Monday, as Congress returned to the Capitol with a rapidly growing roster of members exposed to the new coronavirus, leaders and high-ranking officials could not agree on who has the ultimate authority to change security and health protocols on the Hill, where thousands of lawmakers, staffers and visitors interact every day.

At the end of a remarkably unsettling day, Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Monday that despite several lawmakers being under self-quarantine after coming in contact with people infected with the coronavirus, there will not be changes to the House schedule and legislative work will continue as planned — at least for now.

“At the present time, there is no reason for us not to continue with our vital legislative work in the Capitol,” Pelosi wrote in a Monday evening “Dear Colleague” letter.  Continue reading.

Trump pitches tax cut to ease panic

The Hill logoPresident Trump on Monday took his biggest step to address the economic fallout of the coronavirus, saying he will ask Congress to approve a payroll tax cut and relief for hourly workers.

Trump called for the tax cut during an appearance at the White House briefing room, where Vice President Pence tried to reassure the public that the risk for the average person remains low.

Fears that coronavirus represents a major threat to both public health and the economy grew dramatically Monday amid school closures, lawmakers quarantining themselves and a growing number of U.S. cases.  Continue reading.

These members are self-quarantining after being exposed to coronavirus patients

Lawmakers interacted with people later diagnosed with coronavirus

At least six members of Congress have said they interacted with individuals who tested positive for coronavirus and many have vowed to stay away from Capitol Hill temporarily.

Republican Reps. Doug Collins of Georgia and Matt Gaetz of Florida, as well as California Democrat Julia Brownley, announced Monday they were self-quarantining. Republican Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said in separate statements Sunday they would also self-quarantine after interacting with a person who later tested positive for COVID-19.

Gaetz, Collins, Gosar and Cruz said they were exposed to a coronavirus patient at the Conservative Political Action Conference, which typically attracts thousands of conservatives and was held Feb. 26-29 at National Harbor in Maryland. Continue reading.

Germaphobe Trump is ‘definitely melting down’ over coronavirus crisis. But he still isn’t ready to cancel MAGA rallies: report

AlterNet logoOne the great ironies of the coronavirus threat is that although President Donald Trump has downplayed its severity, he has a reputation for being a major germaphobe. Journalist Gabriel Sherman, this week in Vanity Fair, reports that Trump is still as much of a “germaphobe” as ever — while treating coronavirus like a battle with his political enemies and insisting that the situation is under control in the United States.

“As Trump pushes a nothing-to-see-here message in public, sources said he’s privately terrified about getting the virus,” Sherman reports. One of Vanity Fair’s sources, according to Sherman, said that Trump is so paranoid that he believes journalists will try to contract coronavirus on purpose in order to give it to him on Air Force One.

That source told Vanity Fair that Trump is “definitely melting down over this.” Continue reading.

Pence urged Israel not to target U.S. with coronavirus quarantine: “Go global”

Axios logoVice President Mike Pence personally asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to target Israel’s newly announced coronavirus quarantine at only visitors from the U.S., but to “go global,” senior Israeli officials tell me.

Why it matters: On Monday, Netanyahu announced a new policy of self-quarantine for a period of 14 days for anyone who enters Israel regardless of their country of origin — thus implementing Pence’s request, made during a call on Sunday. Israeli officials say Pence’s request significantly influenced Netanyahu’s decision.

Behind the scenes: Pence stressed to Netanyahu that he understands Israel’s concerns about a coronavirus outbreak, but said the Trump administration would not look favorably on a policy that only affected the U.S. and several European countries, like Italy. Continue reading.

Road ahead: Surveillance powers deadline approaches amid coronavirus concerns

Legislative agenda could be sidelined if virus fears prompt changes

Congress is staring down a deadline to reauthorize three surveillance powers before they expire on March 15, but members will be negotiating that as the Capitol begins grappling with rapidly evolving coronavirus concerns.

Congress already cleared emergency funding to fight the coronavirus, but the illness will still be front of mind at the Capitol this week as confirmed cases of COVID-19 have emerged in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding area and two lawmakers announced they’ll be staying home because they interacted with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said in separate statements Sunday evening they will take precautionary measures because they interacted at the Conservative Political Action Conference, known as CPAC, with a person who later tested positive for the virus. Continue reading.