via press release from the McGrath campaign
To ensure safety of the participants, moderators, staff, and crew, retired Marine Lt. Col. Amy McGrath’s campaign sent a letter to WKYT requesting that everyone present for the Oct. 12 debate between McGrath and Sen. Mitch McConnell be tested for COVID-19 and provide the results to the station in advance of the debate. The letter comes after the McGrath campaign first asked Sen. McConnell directly to be tested, though he refused to do so, citing privacy between himself and his doctor.
McGrath campaign letter to WKYT (PDF)
The campaign cited that McConnell has been in close contact with a number of people who have tested positive, including three Republican senators, and his public refusal to confirm whether he has been tested recently as reasons for their request.
Senators Cory Gardner, Joni Ernst, and Martha McSally all were tested prior to their relevant debates. McConnell is disregarding this norm set by members of his own caucus, despite that the outbreak traced to the White House now numbers 34 people.
“Sen. McConnell has a duty to Kentuckians to keep them safe and set an example on following CDC guidelines,” said McGrath. “On September 30th, he had a lunch meeting, with his mask off, with three senators who not much later tested positive for the coronavirus. Based on that alone he should absolutely get tested. Instead, he is appearing across Kentucky without a mask. His unwillingness to be tested right now and share the results with Kentucky is a continuation of his failed leadership during this pandemic and his inability to take this virus seriously enough.”
As coronavirus cases are once again on the rise, with 7,809 total in the last week in Kentucky, a record, and more than 46,000 new daily cases on average nationally, the CDC clearly states that “if you have been in close contact, such as within 6 feet of a person with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection for at least 15 minutes and do not have symptoms, you need a test.”
Facts noted in press release
McConnell came in contact with several people who tested positive for COVID-19
Sept. 29
Event: McConnell met with Mike Pence and Amy Coney Barrett.
Link to photo/video: McConnell meets with Pence and ACB
Event: McConnell spoke on the floor of the Senate.
People in attendance who tested positive for COVID:
Mike Lee and Ron Johnson also voted that day. However, it has not been confirmed that they were in the chamber at the same time.
Link to photo/video: Video
Sept. 30
Event: Senate GOP Lunch
People in attendance who tested positive for COVID: Mike Lee, Thom Tillis, Ron Johnson
Event: McConnell spoke on the Senate floor
People in attendance who tested positive for COVID: Thom Tillis was also there that day on the senate floor
Link to photo/video: McConnell speaks to reporters after lunch, Video
Oct. 1
Event: McConnell spoke on the Senate floor
People in attendance who tested positive for COVID: Ron Johnson was also there that day on the Senate floor
Link to photo/video: Video
Oct. 2
Event: McConnell visits Georgetown Community Hospital.
Link to photo/video: Picture from event, Video of press conference
Oct. 5
Event: McConnell spoke on the floor of the Senate. (Tracker)
Link to photo/video: Video
McConnell refused to say when and whether he had gotten tested following the news of several senators testing positive
Oct 2nd
McConnell would not answer a question about when he was last tested, only insisting that the Senate was following CDC guidelines. [WHAS-11, 10/2/20]
“Have I ever been tested? Yes,” said McConnell after repeated attempts at the question. “But I’m not going to answer questions about when.” [Courier-Journal, 10/2/20]