Ted Cruz to extend self-quarantine after second interaction with individual who tested positive ...

Washington

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas announced on Friday that he will extend his self-quarantine until March 17 after "a second interaction" with an individual who tested positive for coronavirus.

In a statement, Cruz said that his initial period of self-quarantine came to an end Thursday afternoon. But said, "Unfortunately, last night I was informed I had a second interaction with an individual who yesterday tested positive for COVID-19."

"On March 3, I met in my D.C. office with Santiago Abascal, the leader of the Vox Party in Spain," he said, adding, "My understanding is that Mr. Abascal tested positive for COVID-19 last night."

Cruz said that while he is "still not feeling any symptoms," he has decided "out of an abundance of caution and to give everyone peace of mind — I am extending the self-quarantine to March 17, a full fourteen days from my meeting with Mr. Abascal."

As lawmakers on Capitol Hill grapple with how to contain the spread of coronavirus across the United States, nine members of Congress are now taking steps to either self-quarantine or otherwise isolate themselves as a precaution after coming into contact with an infected individual.

Five Republican lawmakers -- Cruz along with Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida, Doug Collins of Georgia, Paul Gosar of Arizona and Mark Meadows of North Carolina -- opted to self-quarantine after interacting with an individual at the Conservative Political Action Conference who has tested positive for coronavirus.

Two Democrats are also taking precautionary measures. California Rep. Julia Brownley announced on Monday that she and her staff are now working remotely after finding out that she recently came into contact with someone who tested positive. On Tuesday, Virginia Rep. Don Beyer announced that he will self-quarantine after learning that a friend he interacted with recently tested positive.

On Thursday, Republican Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Lindsey Graham also announced they are self-quarantining.

Here are those lawmakers:

Ted Cruz

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas initially announced that he had been notified that he was in contact with an individual at CPAC who tested positive and is showing symptoms. In a statement, Cruz said that "the interaction consisted of a brief conversation and a handshake."

Cruz said that he is "not experiencing any symptoms, and I feel fine and healthy," and that "medical authorities have advised me that the odds of transmission from the other individual to me were extremely low."

But despite that, the senator said that "out of an abundance of caution," he has "decided to remain at my home in Texas this week until a full 14 days have passed since the CPAC interaction."

Now, however, he is extending that self-quarantine after a second interaction with an individual who tested positive.

Matt Gaetz

A message posted to Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz's Twitter account on Monday stated that the congressman found out on Monday that he came into contact with an individual at CPAC who had tested positive.

"While the congressman is not experiencing symptoms, he received testing today and expects the results soon," the message stated, going on to say, "Under doctor's usual precautionary recommendations, he'll remain self-quarantined until the 14-day period expires this week."

Gaetz announced on Tuesday that his test results came back negative, but said he would remain in self-quarantine until Thursday "in an abundance of caution."

"I've just been informed that my COVID-19 lab result was negative. In an abundance of caution, I will remain under self-quarantine at the advice of medical professionals through Thursday at 2pm. I continue to feel fine and show no symptoms," he tweeted.

Gaetz rode on Air Force Once with President Donald Trump on Monday and spent the weekend at Trump's Mar-a-Lago property.

He also made headlines last week when he wore a gas mask onto the House floor while lawmakers voted to approve emergency funding to combat coronavirus.

Doug Collins

Republican Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia announced on Monday that CPAC contacted him to tell him that a photo of him and the conference attendee who tested positive had been found, indicating they interacted.

"While I feel completely healthy and I am not experiencing any symptoms, I have decided to self-quarantine at my home for the remainder of the 14-day period out of an abundance of caution," Collins said in a statement.

Like Gaetz, Collins also had recent interactions with the President. Collins shook hands with Trump when the President visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta last week.

Paul Gosar

Republican Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona put out a statement on Sunday saying that he was similarly notified that during CPAC he was in contact with an individual who had tested positive.

The congressman said that he s

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