Chuck Schumer Scolds Trump Administration for ‘Cavalier Attitude’ Toward Coronavirus: ‘Following Science Is a Must’

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks during a news conference in front
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Hannah Knudsen

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) wished President Donald Trump and first lady Melania well following their positive Chinese coronavirus test results, but he chastised the administration for purportedly ignoring “science.”

“I wish President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump and White House staff members who are infected a speedy recovery. I join the nation in praying for the First Family’s health and safety,” Schumer said before criticizing the administration for, he suggested, ignoring “science.”

The New York lawmaker said the president’s diagnosis serves as a reminder of “why the whole country, including Senators and staff, must follow the science and follow the protocols laid out by the CDC and public health officials.”

“When you ignore the science, you don’t wear a mask, and you don’t follow social distancing guidelines, it puts you and everyone around you at risk,” he said. “Following science is a must.”

Schumer also used his statement to call for the creation of a rigorous testing and contact tracing program “for Senators, staff, and all who work in the Capitol complex.”

“We simply cannot allow the administration’s cavalier attitude to adversely affect this branch of government,” Schumer said.

“It is imperative that all results be made public in order to contain a possible outbreak and so we can determine the need for Senators and staff to quarantine or self-isolate,” he continued:

The prominent Trump critic also called on the White House to “immediately conduct a contact tracing regime that follows CDC guidelines, as well as thorough testing and isolation for those who were exposed to infection risk”:

This must include strict adherence to those guidelines for all of the White House staff members that the President, First Lady, and the aide came into contact with; and all of the people those individuals came into contact with whom experts deem at risk of exposure, and so forth. That includes Judge Amy Coney Barrett and anyone she was in contact with.  It must also include people in the Senate with whom those individuals came into contact with, and their contacts.  Though they have not done so in the past, the administration must now follow the science and all recommended health protocols in order to not put additional people at risk. And they must be completely transparent.

Both Trump and the first lady are experiencing “mild symptoms” of the virus but remain in good spirits, according to reports.

It remains unclear from the statement if Schumer believes Barrett, who recently met with both the president and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), who also tested positive for the virus, should remain in isolation despite testing negative.

Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has no plans to delay Barrett’s confirmation hearing and said he spoke to Judiciary Committee member Sen. Lee, who predicted he will be back to work in time to join his Judiciary Committee colleagues on October 12:

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