Congress' doctor wants 'maximal telework' amid virus surge
ABC News
Congress’ top doctor says lawmakers should move to a “maximal telework posture.”
WASHINGTON -- Congress' top doctor urged lawmakers Monday to move to a “maximal telework posture," citing “unprecedented” numbers of COVID-19 cases at the Capitol that he said are mostly breakthrough infections of people already vaccinated.
The seven-day average rate of infection at the Capitol's testing center has grown from less than 1% to more than 13%, Brian P. Monahan, the attending physician, wrote in a letter to congressional leaders obtained by The Associated Press.
Monahan said there have been “an unprecedented number of cases in the Capitol community affecting hundreds of individuals." Citing what he said was limited sampling as of Dec. 15, he said about 61% of the cases were the new, highly contagious omicron variant while 38% were the delta variant.
While providing no figure, he said “most" cases at the Capitol are breakthroughs. Of those testing positive, 35% are asymptomatic, he said.
