At least three members of Congress have COVID-19 after spending hours in lockdown when a group of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol Building last week. On Monday, both New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal announced they tested positive. On Tuesday, Illinois Rep. Brad Schneider said he tested positive.
Coleman, 75, said she was "experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms" and went to the hospital to receive monoclonal antibody treatment.
"While I am experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms, I remain in good spirits and will continue to work on behalf of my constituents," she said.
Jayapal, who represents Washington's 7th Congressional District, blamed her Republican colleagues, claiming they refused to wear masks while sequestered in a secure room with at least 100 people.
"I just received a positive COVID-19 test result after being locked down in a secured room at the Capitol where several Republicans not only cruelly refused to wear a mask but recklessly mocked colleagues and staff who offered them one," she said in a statement.
She went on to call for lawmakers who refuse to wear a mask to be punished.
"Any Member who refuses to wear a mask should be fully held accountable for endangering our lives because of their selfish idiocy. I'm calling for every single Member who refuses to wear a mask in the Capitol to be fined and removed from the floor by the Sergeant at Arms."
Jayapal and Coleman both received their first dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. It takes two doses for full immunity.
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