Colorado Republican Sen. Cory Gardner announced last night that he was going into self-quarantine because of coronavirus concerns.
Gardner said in a statement that the Denver-area Tri-County Health Department had notified him of a constituent having the disease. That constituent had recently visited Gardner in his Washington office.
"While I am not showing any symptoms at this time, I have made the decision to self quarantine out of an abundance of caution with an effective date of March 11 at the recommendation of the Tri-County Health Department," Gardner said.
Gardner is a prominent congressional voice on energy and environmental issues, and he is fighting a tough reelection campaign.
Numerous lawmakers have been self-quarantining in recent days after learning that they came in contact with someone infected with the new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. Several have closed their office as a precaution.
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) said aides from their Capitol Hill offices had turned up positive.
Senate Environment and Public Works ranking member Tom Carper (D-Del.) said a staffer in his state office was sick. So far, no lawmaker has been diagnosed.
Several lawmakers, including Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), have emerged from self-quarantines.
