US Capitol closing to public until April 01 amid virus outbreak

Monitoring Desk

WASHINGTON: US Congress is shutting the Capitol to the public until April in reaction to the spread of the coronavirus, officials announced Thursday, a rare step that underscores the growing gravity with which the country’s government is reacting to the viral outbreak.

In a statement, the House and Senate sergeants at arms said congressional office buildings and the Congressional Visitor Center, through which tourists enter the Capitol, were also being shuttered.

Only lawmakers, staff, journalists and visitors with official business will be permitted to enter the buildings. The closures begin at 5 p.m. EDT Thursday, and the buildings are scheduled to reopen on April 1.

The officials said they were acting on the advice of District of Columbia health officials and of Congress’ own doctors.

“We are taking this temporary action out of concern for the health and safety of congressional employees as well as the public,” they wrote.

“We appreciate the understanding of those with planned visits interrupted by this necessary but prudent decision.”

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.

Also, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s communications secretary, Fabio Wajngarten, has tested positive for coronavirus, and is waiting on the result of a second test for confirmation, the Brazilian government said Thursday, confirming earlier reports.

The Brazilian president’s office “has taken and is taking all necessary preventive measures to protect the health of the president and all staff that traveled with him to the United States” last Saturday to Tuesday, it said in a statement.

The diagnosis came after Wajngarten returned from the United States with Bolsonaro, who met with US President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Wajgnarten was photographed standing next to Trump and US Vice President Mike Pence. He shared the photo on his Instagram account on Sunday.

Wajngarten’s wife confirmed that her husband had been infected with the novel coronavirus in a message on a WhatsApp group addressed to parents of the school where their daughters study.

“My husband returned from a trip to the United States yesterday and tested for covid-19, which turned out to be positive,” Sophie Wajngarten wrote to the group, according to the daily Folha de S. Paulo. (AP)