Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) has tested positive for COVID-19 after being in Washington, D.C., this week, becoming the latest member of Congress to be diagnosed with the disease.
“While I cannot blame anyone directly for this, this week has shown that there are some Members of Congress who fail to take this crisis seriously,” Grijalva said in a statement to the Arizona Republic.
Grijalva, who is the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, had been self-quarantining at his D.C., residence this week after chairing a hearing attended by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), who tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday.
Gohmert tested positive during a screening at the White House before he was supposed to accompany President Trump on a trip to Texas. The lawmaker is one of the House members who has been seen without a mask in recent weeks.
It is unclear where exactly Grijalva contracted COVID-19. The Arizona Democrat said in his statement Saturday that he was asymptomatic and felt “fine,” but he criticized House Republicans who have been resistant to wearing masks around the Capitol complex.
“Numerous Republican members routinely strut around the Capitol without a mask to selfishly make a political statement at the expense of their colleagues, staff, and their families,” he told the Arizona Republic.
“I’m pleased that [Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)] has mandated the use of masks at the Capitol to keep members and staff safe from those looking to score quick political points,” he added.
The Capitol’s attending physician informed Grijalva of his positive test on Friday, the newspaper reported.