Capitol Siege January 11, 2021

January 6th May Have Been A COVID Super Spreader

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: Electoral college votes are brought in prior to the resumption of a joint session of Congress on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congress has reconvened to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump, hours after a pro-Trump mob broke into the U.S. Capitol and disrupted proceedings. (Photo by Erin Schaff - Pool/Getty Images)

The first case of COVID-19 linked to January 6th’s siege on Capitol Hill is being reported. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman has tested positive. Her office released a statement saying, “She believes she was exposed during protective isolation in the U.S. Capitol building as a result of insurrectionist riots. “

I am home resting at this time. While I am experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms, I remain in good spirits and will continue to work on behalf of my constituents.
— Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (@RepBonnie) January 11, 2021

This isn’t a surprise. Some Republican lawmakers were caught on video turning down masks being offered by a colleague.

Video via ⁦@PunchbowlNews⁩ of Republican lawmakers sitting unmasked in the secure room during the riot — and refusing an offer of masks from ⁦@RepLBR⁩.

One House Republican would test positive for COVID-19 later in the day. https://t.co/8nz5MnBxlI
— Gabe Fleisher (@WakeUp2Politics) January 8, 2021

Over the weekend, Brian Monahan, an attending physician to Congress sent an email to members of Congress with this alert:

“On Wednesday January 6, many members of the House community were in protective isolation in room located in a large committee hearing space. The time in this room was several hours for some and briefer for others. During this time, individuals may have been exposed to another occupant with coronavirus infection.”

Watson Coleman is a cancer survivor. She previously received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, but it’s unclear how long ago she was vaccinated.

And not just Democratic colleagues. There are plenty of elderly and vulnerable Republicans in Congress. A GOP congressman-elect already died from COVID!

The virus doesn't give a damn about your politics. This reflects an absence of humanity, not a surfeit of partisanship.
— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) January 11, 2021

An outbreak is also expected among those who took part in the riots. Most of the participants were maskless. ABC News writes, “Public health officials will not know for weeks exactly how many new COVID cases are linked to the Capitol Hill riots, but they say the riots could turn out to be a super spreader event.”