Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell to self-isolate after visiting nursing home with COVID

Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell said Thursday she will self-isolate until she receives the result of a COVID-19 test after visiting a nursing home on behalf of constituents in the Florida Keys.

Mucarsel-Powell said she visited the Crystal Health and Rehab Center in Tavernier on Tuesday after hearing from the family members of residents who were upset that the facility did not immediately disclose that 15 residents and six staff members tested positive for COVID-19.

After calling the facility and getting no answer, Mucarsel-Powell said she drove there and met with the facility director, who assured her that their meeting area was safe.

“After a brief meeting, the director made a commitment to me that families of residents would begin receiving more complete and more prompt information,” Mucarsel-Powell said in a statement. “I was later notified that this area was unsafe and that I was possibly exposed to COVID-19, which validates my constituents’ serious concerns with this facility. I will be working from home, and my family and I are not exhibiting symptoms.”

A Crystal Health and Rehab Center employee said the manager who met with Mucarsel-Powell was not working on Thursday, when a Miami Herald reporter called.

The congresswoman said she went inside the nursing home and spoke with the home’s director in a “safe zone” while wearing a mask. Later, Mucarsel-Powell said she was told she shouldn’t have been invited inside because that violates current state guidelines prohibiting visitors at nursing facilities.

“Out of an abundance of caution and following the advice of healthcare professionals, I will be getting tested for coronavirus, and will remain in self-quarantine until I have the test results back and my doctor says it is safe for me to leave my home,” Mucarsel-Powell said.

Mucarsel-Powell is in her first-term as a member of Congress, representing parts of Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys and will likely face Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez in the November general election.

Gimenez’s campaign criticized Mucarsel-Powell for visiting the nursing home, calling it “a political stunt” to get media coverage. They accused her of “pretending to be clueless about state guidelines while risking the lives of others.”

Murcarsel-Powell’s chief of staff said Gimenez should be “ashamed” for attacking Mucarsel-Powell for doing her job.

“It’s disappointing but not surprising that Carlos Gimenez is lying and promising to do nothing to help his constituents, and he should be ashamed of himself for mocking those who do,” said Carlos Paz Jr.

Mucarsel-Powell is the fourth member of Congress from South Florida to self-quarantine due to the coronavirus.

Miami Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart was the first member of Congress to test positive for COVID-19 in March. He recovered in his Washington apartment after getting tested by the physician that oversees Congress.

Democratic Reps. Ted Deutch and Frederica Wilson also self-quarantined after coming into contact with people who tested positive, though neither was tested or showed any symptoms. Republican Sen. Rick Scott also self-quarantined after meeting with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in March. Days after their meeting, one of Bolsonaro’s aides tested positive, though Scott also did not show symptoms or get tested.

Under new rules passed by the House of Representatives last week, Mucarsel-Powell will be able to vote on legislation and officially participate in hearings remotely, for as long as the public health emergency persists. A proxy lawmaker acting on Mucarsel-Powell’s behalf will be allowed to cast votes for her on the House floor.

The remote voting rules were passed last week on a party-line vote, with Democrats agreeing to the changes and Republicans objecting.

This story was originally published May 21, 2020 at 3:46 PM.