Three different groups – the Capitol police, rioters and members of Congress – “spent time indoors, without social distance,” said Dr. Joshua Barocas, a doctor of infectious diseases at Boston University, said. The assistance was probably a super-distributor, he added, “especially given the background of the many transmissible variants circulating.”
Dr Barocas referred to a highly contagious new variant of the coronavirus, first identified in Britain. It has been spotted in several U.S. states, but it may have spread across the country, making events such as the Capitol riots even more risky, he said.
The idea that members of Congress may have been exposed in the midst of an already difficult transfer of power has particularly disturbed scientists. “I’m not only concerned that this could lead to super-distribution, but also to people being elected as officials,” said Dr Tom Ingelsby, director of the Center for Health Safety at Johns Hopkins University.
And infected members of Congress and law enforcement could have spread the virus among themselves when they were sheltered from the violence, he noted.
Rep. Jake LaTurner, a Republican from Kansas, announced early on Thursday morning on Twitter that he had tested positive for the virus. Mr. LaTurner was in the room with other members of Congress for much of the day.
At least a dozen of the approximately 400 lawmakers and staff who gathered in one committee room refused to wear masks, even after being presented with one, or wearing it improperly under their chin, said Pennsylvania Democrat Rep. Susan Wild. , said.
They gathered in a committee room that quickly became overcrowded, making social distance impossible, she said. Some of the lawmakers were exposed and others shouted, “Tensions were high and people were shouting at each other.”