Assembly Offices Close In Sacramento Following 5 New Coronavirus Cases

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On Monday, the State Capitol Building and the Legislative Office Building were shut down for a week following a small outbreak of coronavirus among Assembly workers.

Assemblywoman Autumn Burke (D-Marina Del Rey) and 4 Assembly staffers had been told before the weekend that they had received “mask-to-mask” exposure of the coronavirus during the busy Assembly budget hearing and vote on June 26th. Assemblywoman Burke announced her contraction on Monday through Twitter.

“On July 3rd I received a call from the Assembly Human Resources Department that I had a “mask to mask” exposure to COVID-19 on June 26th,” said Assemblywoman Burke. “I was tested on the morning of July 4th and received my results in the evening that I had tested positive for the coronavirus.

“Currently, my daughter and I have no symptoms, but will be remaining in quarantine until released by a doctor. Thank you to everyone who has reached out with well wishes. We are fine, but it is of the utmost importance that everyone stay safe, be healthy & remain vigilant.”

(1/2) On July 3rd I received a call from the Assembly Human Resources Department that I had a "mask to mask" exposure to COVID-19 on June 26th. I was tested on the morning of July 4th and received my results in the evening that I had tested positive for the coronavirus.

— Autumn Burke (@autumnrburke) July 6, 2020

After earlier coronavirus cases last week in the Capitol, the Assembly had limited legislators to one staffer in offices, with all others working from home.

“As has been our policy, only essential staff needed to support Members and Assembly operations should be in the office,” noted the Assembly Rules Committee in an inter-office email last Thursday. “Until further notice, under no circumstances should more than one essential staff be in the office each day. All other staff who can work remotely should do so.”

The Assembly Rules Committee said in a follow-up this weekend that all known people who contracted Coronavirus in the Capitol had been wearing masks at the time. On Monday they asked all Members and staff who are coming in to self-screen for the virus.

“They’re really moving things up all around here right now,” explained Dana, a worker in the Capitol Building. “A lot of places in Sacramento have shut down, but I didn’t think it would happen to the Capitol Building all over again.

“Now a lot of us have to work from home. It honestly won’t delay much because we can still get a lot done just on our computers, but there are many things where we need everyone in a room at once in person, such as collaborative team efforts, that will be made much more difficult now.

Nothing will be stopped right now, just slowed down or delayed. Some of these bills, even shutting down the building won’t stop them if you know what I mean.”

Assembly offices in the Capitol and Legislative Office Building will be closed for a week, as they need to be thoroughly cleaned to prevent further cases of coronavirus. They are currently scheduled to reopen on July 13th.