Coronavirus Finally Seems To Have Forced Senate Gym Closure

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  Members of Congress don't want to talk about one thing -- at least based on numerous calls we made Monday -- why on Earth they left the Senate gym open for business in the middle of this pandemic.

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  It appears the gym is finally closed. We called the number for the gym and it's gone to voicemail all day.

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  We also called a number of Senators' offices, but we didn't get any answers. For example, <strong>Speaker McConnell</strong>'s office directed us to the House Rules Committee and we were told to email a staffer which we did -- so far, no response as to the status of the gym.

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  As we reported, Senator <a href="https://www.tmz.com/people/rand-paul/"><strong>Rand Paul</strong></a> has <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2020/03/22/senator-rand-paul-tests-positive-coronavirus-quarantine/"><strong>tested positive</strong></a> and he exercised in the Senate gym on Sunday. Other members have now self-quarantined because they came in contact with Paul while conducting business. What's unclear ... were the Senators with whom he came in contact with at the gym?

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  It's pretty remarkable ... virtually everyone knows, gyms around the country <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2020/03/16/home-gyms-selling-record-numbers-coronavirus/"><strong>have been shut down</strong></a> because they're breeding grounds for the virus. Dozens -- even hundreds -- of people touching the same equipment every day and sweating on it.

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  This isn't the only dangerous situation on the Hill. TMZ broke the story ... some members of Congress <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2020/03/22/coronavirus-congress-house-members-capitol/"><strong>bitterly complained</strong></a> over the last 3 weeks the Capitol should be locked down. &nbsp;Visitors and lobbyists filled the halls and the Senate offices ... people who have flown in from all over the country.

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  The leadership from both sides declined to take that drastic measure. Several House members tell us the leaders were afraid of triggering a national panic. But, we need our representatives healthy, and clearly more should have been done.

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  One of the members we spoke with told us he's tested positive for the coronavirus. It has not yet been reported, but he tells us he's self-quarantining.

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