GOP Rep. Jody Hice Temporarily Closes Washington DC Office over Coronavirus

GOP Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA) on Friday announced the pending closure of his Washington, DC, office over growing fears of the Chinese coronavirus.

“As I have previously shared, I regret that the coronavirus has necessitated the closing of the U.S. Capitol and the White House to the public,” Hice said in a statement.

“If you had travel plans and tours scheduled through my office, my staff is available to share information and I encourage you to call my offices. We apologize for the inconvenience,” he continued, reminding constituents that his district offices in Monroe and Milledgeville will remain open and “continue to operate as normal.”

“However, for our health and yours, I encourage constituents to contact our district staff by telephone and avoid visiting for in-person meetings unless absolutely necessary,” he said.

“Please continue to monitor my social media, website, or newsletter to stay updated on future developments,” Hice urged.

The closure of his DC office will take effect on March 16 and comes as the U.S. Congress halted Capitol tours following reports of a staffer of Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) contracting the virus.

President Trump declared a national emergency on Friday to “unleash the full efforts of the federal government” as another means to combat the virus.