Republican House Rep Has COVID, Wouldn’t Wear Mask

June 16, 2020 Coronavirus, Republicans

Rep. Tom Rice, R-S.C., said Monday that he, his wife and their son have the coronavirus illness, COVID-19. In a statement, Rice called the illness the “Wuhan Flu,” a term that has been criticized as inaccurate and even racist. “We are all on the mend and doing fine,” Rice said.

Rice said his son, Lucas, got sick on June 7, a Sunday, was tested Tuesday and got results Friday. “By Wednesday, he had gotten really sick with a high fever and really bad cough. He turned the corner Saturday, and did not have fever yesterday,” Rice wrote in the statement.

When CNN reporter Manu Raju asked Rice why he wasn’t wearing a mask in the chamber on May 28, the congressman said he could maintain at least 6 feet of distance from everyone on the floor and in the halls of the Capitol and therefore didn’t need to wear a mask. COVID-19 can spread even from asymptomatic carriers.

Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC) is now the 8th member of Congress to have a confirmed or presumed case of COVID-19.

Rice says that among other symptoms, he “CAN’T TASTE BACON!!!”https://t.co/mdhASZTqsa

— Cristina Marcos (@cimarcos) June 15, 2020