Rep. Susie Lee Statement on First Presumptively Positive COVID-19 Case in Southern Nevada

March 5, 2020

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Susie Lee (Nev.-03) released the following statement in response to the first presumptively positive case of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in southern Nevada. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) treat ‘presumptively positive' cases as ‘positive' for public health purposes.

"The presumptively positive case of COVID-19 in southern Nevada is a reminder of how important it is to practice basic hygiene, stay home or seek medical attention if you're ill, and listen to up-to-date guidance from the CDC," said Rep. Lee. "Facts, sound science, basic hygiene, and calm are key."

BACKGROUND: On Feb. 28, Rep. Lee and a group of her congressional colleagues sent a letter to House and Senate leadership voicing support for the appropriation of comprehensive supplemental funding to address COVID-19. Follow the link to read the letter.

As a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus (PSC), Rep. Lee called for bipartisan cooperation across the country, congressional leadership, and the administration to combat COVID-19. Follow the link to read PSC's statement. Rep. Lee and PSC met with Vice President Mike Pence on Mar. 3 to discuss the spread and potential global impact of COVID-19.

On Mar. 4, Rep. Lee and the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan emergency supplemental appropriation bill of $8.3 billion to address COVID-19 with a vote of 415 to two. The emergency supplemental provides $8.3 billion in entirely new funding—not funding taken from other critical public health priorities—to combat the coronavirus epidemic and keep Americans safe. It includes:

More than $3 billion for research and development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics;
$2.2 billion in public health funding for prevention, preparedness, and response, $950 million of which is to support state & local health agencies;
Nearly $1 billion for procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, to support healthcare preparedness and Community Health Centers, and to improve medical surge capacity;
$61 million to facilitate the development and review of medical countermeasures, devices, therapies, and vaccines, and to help mitigate potential supply chain interruptions;
$1.25 billion to address the coronavirus abroad to help keep Americans safe here at home; and
Allows for an estimated $7 billion in low-interest loans to affected small businesses, to help cushion the economic blow of this public health emergency.

Follow the links below for more information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on COVID-19 and steps to take to prevent the spread of the virus:

ADDITIONAL CDC INFORMATION:

CORONAVIRUS: CDC Guidance on Prevention and Treatment

CORONAVIRUS: CDC Guidance on How It Spreads

CORONAVIRUS: CDC Guidance on Symptoms
CORONAVIRUS: CDC Information on Number of Confirmed U.S. Cases
NEW: CORONAVIRUS: CDC Information on States with Confirmed or Presumptive Cases of Coronavirus
CORONAVIRUS: CDC Guidance for Travelers
CORONAVIRUS: CDC Guidance for Businesses/Employers
CORONAVIRUS: CDC Frequently Asked Questions

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Issues: Congress Health Care