Mississippi Capitol ‘was a ticking time bomb,’ says Coast legislator with COVID-19
Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and a number of Coast legislators have tested positive for COVID-19, with more positive tests expected to follow — and more positive test results.
State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said during a news conference Tuesday afternoon that eight legislators have tested positive for the new coronavirus, with 11 suspected cases. Dobbs said he believes most of the suspected cases will be confirmed.
He said 270 legislators and staff members around the Capitol were tested Monday, with results expected by Tuesday evening.
Hosemann has informed members of the Senate about his positive coronavirus test result and is following state Health Department guidelines on self-quarantining, said his deputy chief of staff, Leah Smith.
She said that Hosemann is working from home but did not say whether he has symptoms.
State Rep. Greg Haney, R-Gulfport, told the Sun Herald on Tuesday that he also has tested positive for COVID-19 but has no symptoms.
Haney said the Mississippi State Health Department has advised legislators to self-quarantine for two weeks. He said he expects more legislators to get tested this week and find out that they, too, are positive for the virus.
Only about 25% to 30% of House members were wearing masks, Haney and Rep. Sonya Williams-Barnes, D-Gulfport said, during the session that ended Wednesday evening. The previous weekend, legislators stayed for a marathon session of historic votes that retired the state flag with its Confederate emblem.
No social distancing, few wearing masks at Capitol
Both Williams-Barnes and Haney said they wore masks at the Capitol. Williams-Barnes said several representatives who were not wearing masks sat at her desk or walked up to talk without following social distancing guidelines. Williams-Barnes said she finally put a sign on her desk asking people not to sit there.
She said that she wanted people to respect her space. “That’s what it boils down to,” she said, “people not respecting your area.”
Barnes-Williams added: “I am very conscientious. I know firsthand what COVID-19 can lead to, which is death.” She said that she has been following the heavy toll the coronavirus is taking on the Black community.
Both Williams-Barnes and Haney said the Mississippi State Health Department has advised legislators to self-quarantine, even if their tests are negative.
Haney said that he is holed up in his bedroom. He lives with his wife and oldest son. His wife was tested for the virus Tuesday and also is self-quarantining, while his son has been working from home and keeping his distance.
Haney said that his family stayed home, social distanced and wore masks during state stay-at-home orders.
Then he returned for the legislative session in Jackson.
“That many people in the Capitol — all the legislators, all the lobbyists — we knew it was a ticking time bomb, but we thought we were past it,” Haney said.
More positive COVID-19 tests expected for legislators
He believes more legislators will be testing positive this week.
“It’s going to a big crowd before it’s over with,” Haney said. “Has to be, being around each other. Social distancing sounds great. There’s no way you could do it. It got lax toward the end. It got lax. A lot of people weren’t wearing masks.”
Haney believes it is impossible to say whether he contracted COVID-19 at the state Capitol. He said he and other legislators also had to eat in restaurants while in Jackson.
“We’ve got to eat somewhere,” he said.
Haney hopes he remains symptom-less, but there’s no guarantee.
“This COVID-19 is the strangest thing,” he said. “We have to wait and see. I just pray that I have a mild case.”
Symptoms could start tonight, too,” he said. “You don’t know.”
House Speaker Philip Gunn announced Sunday that he had tested positive for COVID-19. Gunn stood over the governor’s shoulder as he signed the bill retiring the flag one week ago.
Reeves, who has on several occasions been photographed in public without a mask, announced Tuesday morning that he and his family had tested negative for the virus.
Reeves said in a Facebook Live appearance Monday afternoon that “a large number of legislators” have tested positive for COVID-19.
This story was originally published July 7, 2020 at 1:54 PM.
