California Capitol closing after Assembly member gets virus

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A coronavirus outbreak is closing California’s Capitol and forcing the Assembly to put off its return to work as infection and hospitalization rates soar across the state.

Assemblywoman Autumn Burke, a Democrat from Inglewood, tweeted Monday that she was exposed to COVID-19 by someone when the Assembly met on June 26 to pass a $202.1 billion budget, even though she and others were wearing masks and observing physical distancing requirements.

“Currently, my daughter and I have no symptoms, but will be remaining in quarantine until released by a doctor,” Burke tweeted.

Four other people who work in the Assembly also have tested positive for the virus, Speaker Anthony Rendon’s office confirmed without indicating whether they were lawmakers or staff.

The Speaker’s office said the Capitol building would be closed until further notice for “cleaning and sanitizing.”

The Assembly was scheduled to return to work on July 13 along with the state Senate. There was no immediate word on whether the Senate’s reentry had been postponed.

Many state legislatures shut down earlier this year as the pandemic took hold of the U.S., including California, where lawmakers missed nearly two months of work in its first unscheduled recess in 158 years. But many legislatures eventually returned to work with restrictions in place to limit the spread of the virus.

The delay comes as more young people are getting the coronavirus in California, fueling a surge of hospitalizations across the state and prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration to step up enforcement of new restrictions on bars and restaurants.

Statewide, coronavirus hospitalizations have increased 56% in the past two weeks while the number of confirmed cases has jumped 53%. In Los...