Aide to Sen. Maria Cantwell tests positive for coronavirus

Sen. Maria Cantwell.
(Image credit: AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

A member of Sen. Maria Cantwell's (D-Wash.) staff has tested positive for coronavirus.

The staffer works out of Cantwell's Washington, D.C., office. This is the first publicly confirmed case of the COVID-19 coronavirus on Capitol Hill, Politico reports.

Cantwell has asked that additional staffers be tested for coronavirus. Her D.C. office will be closed for the rest of the week, with staffers working remotely.

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In Cantwell's home state of Washington, there are 376 confirmed cases of coronavirus. At least 31 people have died there from the virus. In an attempt to slow down the spread of coronavirus in the state, Gov. Jay Inslee (D) announced on Wednesday a ban on gatherings of more than 250 people in three counties.

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