House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody said he and other House members were shocked to learn that Republican Rep. Andrew Lewis found out he tested positive for COVID-19 on May 20 and they only learned about it on Wednesday [May27].
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“Knowing how House members and staff work closely together at the Capitol, we should have been made aware of this much sooner. We should not have learned of it from a media report,” Dermody said.
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Two of those self-quarantining are Reps. Russ Diamond and Frank Ryan, both Lebanon County Republicans who regularly have attended House sessions in person rather than voting by proxy as temporary House rules permit.
Both lawmakers’ 14-day quarantines will end on Thursday. Neither Diamond nor Ryan said they experienced symptoms. They both used the same words to describe how they were feeling: “I feel like a million bucks.”
Dermody said in the last two weeks, House members held six voting session days and more than 15 committee meetings.
It was disclosed today that a Harrisburg lawmaker tested positive for #COVID19 a week ago but few #PaHouse colleagues – who all work closely together at the Capitol – were told.
My statement:https://t.co/raK0upTgva— Frank Dermody (@RepFrankDermody) May 27, 2020
Some of our colleagues sat in close proximity to this member during Committee meetings. The Republican contact tracing program ignored them.
— Rep. Leanne Krueger (@RepLeanne) May 27, 2020
I have been informed that at least four #PAHouse Republicans are self-quarantining. They had previously been on the House floor and in committee meetings without masks. https://t.co/fWhel6gazD
— PA District 163 (@PADistrict163) May 27, 2020
Article submitted by, A Non Ymous.