One of Florida Republican Matt Gatez’s constituents has died just two days after he was accused of mocking the coronavirus by wearing a gas mask in the House.
Gaetz, a strong ally of President Donald Trump, was spotted on Wednesday wearing the gas mask ahead of the vote on an emergency spending bill to fight the virus.
Just two days later and health officials announced the death of a man in Santa Rosa County, which falls under Gaetz’s northwestern Florida district. A second elderly person in Lee County has also died.
‘I’m extremely saddened to learn of the first fatality in our district from coronavirus, a Northwest Floridian residing in Santa Rosa County. Our prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time,’ Gaetz said in a statement.
But Rep. Bobby L. Rush had said Gaetz was ‘making light of an epidemic that has killed 14 Americans.’ He added: ‘This is an absolute tragedy. It is also deeply saddening that when presented with an opportunity to lead, @RepMattGaetz chose to make a cheap joke about an epidemic that would ultimately claim the life of one of his constituents.’
The deaths marking the first fatalities on the East Coast attributed to the outbreak in the United States, health officials said Friday. The number of US cases of coronavirus reached 442 on Saturday night, including 19 deaths.
Gaetz, a strong ally of President Donald Trump, was spotted on Wednesday wearing the gas mask ahead of the vote on an emergency spending bill to fight coronavirus.
Rep. Bobby L. Rush said Gaetz was ‘making light of an epidemic that has killed 14 Americans’
‘Reviewing the coronavirus supplemental appropriation and preparing to go vote,’ Gaetz had tweeted ahead of a vote on the $8.3 billion bill to combat the spread of the virus.
Gaetz, explaining his bizarre accessory, compared the House chamber to a ‘petri dish’ for incubating germs.
‘We all fly in these dirty airports, we touch and selfie everyone we meet and then we congregate together,’ the Florida congressman said.
Among those who asked him to take the mask off were Ruben Gallego, a combat veteran and Arizona Democrat.
The House sergeant-at-arms asked Gaetz to remove his gas mask in the chamber, citing rules against headgear.
Gaetz initially protested as he walked off the House floor. ‘There are provisions in the House rules that permit medically necessary headgear,’ Gaetz said.
Gaetz later acknowledged in a statement to The Hill that ‘House rules do not explicitly allow medical headgear even at this time of heightened concern,’ adding, ‘This is a rule that should be revisited.’
But other lawmakers slammed longtime provocateur Gaetz.
Sean Patrick Maloney, a New York Democrat, told MSNBC he was mocking those who had died.
‘It just shows extraordinary insensitivity to people who have lost loved ones and who are now scared about what’s going on,’ he said.
And on Twitter users rushed to condemn Gaetz’s actions, accusing him of trivializing the issue and making light of a ‘pandemic that kills people’.
Reflecting the urgency among lawmakers to address the growing coronavirus crisis, the House voted 415-2 to approve the bill devoting $8.3 billion to fight coronavirus, just hours after negotiators unveiled its contents.
Under the bill, over $3 billion would be devoted to research and development of coronavirus vaccines, test kits and therapeutics. No vaccines or treatments for the virus are currently in place, but patients can receive supportive care.
Rep. Bobby L. Rush said Gaetz was ‘making light of an epidemic that has killed 14 Americans’
Gaetz said that while the United States was gearing up in the production of virus test kits, ‘we’re not where we want to be. The vice president made that very clear that we’ve got to get more test assets in place.’
In a bid to also help control the spread of the virus outside the United States, $1.25 billion would be available for international efforts.
The fast-spreading virus that emerged late last year in central China is now in some 80 countries. It has killed more than 3,000 worldwide and rattled financial markets.
State and local governments would receive $950 million to support their work in combating the respiratory disease.
Gaetz is a key Trump ally in the House, and apparently intended to highlight the urgency of the coronavirus crisis with his gas mask stunt