Karma: Rep. Matt Gaetz Quarantined Days After Parading In Gas Mask

Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, a boisterous Republican firebrand and staunch ally of the president, made headlines by wearing a gas mask on the floor of the House last week during a stunt to make light of the situation as the House voted on an $8.3 billion coronavirus emergency spending package.

A few days later, he announced that a constituent from his Northwest-Florida district had died:

Gaetz said in a statement published late Friday that he was “extremely saddened to learn of the first fatality in our district.”

Now, the Congressman is facing the prospect of infection himself after allegedly coming into contact with one of the two CPAC attendees who later tested positive for the virus. In a statement published on twitter, Gaetz said he would be joining Ted Cruz in ‘working from home’ with his Washington DC office closed (and his Pensacola office remaining open) until the quarantine period is up (since the event was 11 days ago, he only has three days left)

Congressman Gaetz was informed today that he came into contact with a CPAC attendee 11 days ago who tested positive for COVID-19.

— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) March 9, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

While the Congressman is not experiencing symptoms, he received testing today and expects results soon.

Under doctor’s usual precautionary recommendations, he’ll remain self-quarantined until the 14-day period expires this week.

— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) March 9, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Congressman Gaetz had expected COVID-19 to impact Congress, given the elevated frequency of travel and human contact, and demonstrated his concern last week on the House Floor.https://t.co/zb6P9bmHK7

— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) March 9, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Our Washington office will be closed during this time, with our Pensacola office remaining open.

— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) March 9, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

For what it’s worth, Gaetz is trying to spin the whole episode as a piece of performance art…and that’s certainly not the least convincing argument we’ve heard for why a given gesture constitutes ‘performance art’.

Exactly! https://t.co/fC5lPNJb27

— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) March 9, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Made light?!?! I was quite serious.

The threat to Congress is real, as I explained based on travel and habits like selfies and handshakes. https://t.co/O9MDM3kAiq

— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) March 8, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

However, as the White House confirmed, Gaetz traveled with President Trump on Airforce One earlier on Monday, just hours before he announced his self-quarantine.

Gaetz was on Air Force One with Trump roughly an hour ago. https://t.co/eKM1jBjs5u

— Eli Stokols (@EliStokols) March 9, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Georgia Congressman Doug Collins, who also announced his plan to self-quarantine until the risk period is over, reportedly shook hands with President Trump on Friday when Trump traveled to Atlanta to visit the CDC, according to CNBC.

This afternoon, I was notified by CPAC that they discovered a photo of myself and the patient who has tested positive for #COVID19.

While I am not experiencing any symptoms, I have decided to self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution.

Full statement → pic.twitter.com/74oeaYOBYR

— Rep. Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) March 9, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar, who tweeted earlier that he’d rather die in battle than succumb to a flu-like virus, has also been quarantined (we suspect he was being facetious).

Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does. pic.twitter.com/m6vU5RTQHJ

— Paul Gosar (@DrPaulGosar) March 9, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

As the twitter user below says: This list is subject to change.

Quarantined Members of Congress*
Doug Collins
Ted Cruz
Matt Gaetz
Paul Gosar

* This list is subject to change

— Jeffrey Guterman (@JeffreyGuterman) March 9, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Note to lawmakers: be careful what you say and do as the outbreak unfolds: Because soon, you too might be making one of these statements, too.

The big question: Will Trump be tested for the virus now?