U.S. Senator Bob Menendez called out those who tell him they’re not sold on the urgency of social distancing to halt the spread of coronavirus.
“You will either be part of the solution or you will be one of the statistics,” Menendez said. “The bottom line is either we dramatically bend this curve, or … this is going to be worse than anything we’ve ever seen.”
On a conference call with reporters and U.S. Senator Cory Booker Wednesday, Menendez said that worst-case scenario projections are that 1.7 million American could die as a result of the virus.
“I’m not about to be part of that,” he said. “I hope every New Jerseyan takes this seriously.”
Booker said that the first line of responsible action is to reduce the spread of the life-threatening illness.
“I cannot emphasize how important that is for all of us to be taking steps, the best of which is to do what the governor and local leaders are telling us to do,” Booker said.
Menendez praised Gov. Phil Murphy for “making some really tough decisions.”
“These are not easy decisions to tell people who have worked a lifetime in a business ‘your closed,’ or those who have to ultimately lose their employment in the process,” said New Jersey’s senior senator.
Menendez and Booker have not been tested for COVID-19 and won’t unless they show symptoms.
“I have not sought the test because since I’m not sick,” Menendez said. “I’m not going to take a test that’s important to someone else.
Booker said he has not been tested and has no reason to be.
“We do not need our testing facilities right now overrun. We want to be testing people based upon the guidelines that are being given,” Booker said. “Should either of us fall into the category that we need testing, we will make ourselves available for that.”
Still, the two New Jersey senators stress that they are exercising extraordinary caution.
“I’ve been carrying wipes with me. I wiped the train seat down and the tray table down when I came from New Jersey to Washington this week. I do it when I am traveling in between locations,” Menendez said. “I am constantly washing my hands. Have sanitizer. I am doing anything to minimize my exposure while still doing the work that we critically need.”
Menendez says he has no intention of standing still.
“If I have to get sick and to be doing on the job, that’s what my job is,” said.
Booker said that staffers for both senators are working remotely from home.
“We’re trying to lead by example and show folks what we should be doing,” said Booker.
Coronavirus has even changed the way practices in the tradition-heavy United States Senate.
“They’re staggering votes with a lot more time for them, so that senators do not have face-to-face contact,” Booker said. “They have people walking through the Senate whose job is to just wipe elevator buttons and to sanitize areas.