NJ Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman tested positive for the coronavirus after she was locked down with other lawmakers, some who weren’t wearing masks, during last week’s Capitol riot. She speaks with NBC10’s Lauren Mayk about her condition and her health concerns for other members of congress.
A New Jersey congresswoman tested positive for COVID-19, and she believes she was infected during the Capitol riots last week by other House members not wearing masks.
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, a Democrat who represents New Jersey's state capital Trenton and surrounding areas, said she had a positive rapid test Monday.
"She believes she was exposed during protective isolation in the U.S. Capitol building as a result of insurrectionist riots," her office said in a statement. "As reported by multiple news outlets, a number of members within the space ignored instructions to wear masks."
Watson Coleman said she has cold-like symptoms but feels well otherwise. She had already received one dose of Pfizer's vaccine, her office added.
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Public health officials started raising the alarm even while the riot was still happening about the possibility that so many people gathered in such close quarters could lead to a new outbreak. Watson Coleman is one of the first members of Congress to get sick since.
