According to a memo released Jan. 3 by U.S. Congress physician Brian Monahan, the coronavirus infection rate among U.S. Capitol staff has surged, with an average 7-day positive rate of covid-19 test results exceeding 13 percent.
Monaghan said dozens of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 are found at the Capitol every day. In the coming weeks, the daily rate of COVID-19 infections among Congressional staff is expected to rise sharply.
Monaghan said that among the Capitol staff, 61% of the new crown pneumonia patients were infected with the Olmicron strain, about 38% of the patients were infected with the Delta strain; 65% of the new crown pneumonia patients were symptomatic and 35% of the patients were asymptomatic.
Despite the surge in confirmed covid-19 cases among staff at the U.S. Capitol, the Senate has still not implemented the rule of wearing masks indoors.
![Covid-19 infections in the U.S. Congress have surged 13-fold, and attending physicians at the Capitol urged telecommuting[fig]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP///wAAACwAAAAAAQABAAACAkQBADs=)