FAA chief self-quarantining after shaking hands with congressman who tested positive for coronavirus

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) head Steve Dickson will self-quarantine for a week after contact with Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), who on Wednesday became the first member of Congress to announce that they had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

An FAA official told CNN that Dickson had a “brief interaction” at a House subcommittee hearing with Diaz-Balart on March 11, including a handshake, and will “self-quarantine and work remotely for seven days to ensure he is symptom-free 14 days after contact with the congressman.”

Dickson is not currently displaying any symptoms of the virus, the official said, and while the disease can manifest without symptoms, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines say testing is not necessary for people without symptoms.

“The smart and constructive thing for me to do is stay home,” Dickson said, adding that he is feeling well, according to Reuters.

Dickson is the latest figure to self-quarantine after Diaz-Balart’s positive test. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) announced Wednesday evening he will also self-quarantine.

Rep. Ben McAdams (D-Utah), meanwhile, also announced he had tested positive Wednesday.

Several members of Congress have already self-quarantined after exposure to a person at the Conservative Political Action Conference who later tested positive, including Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) and Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).