U.S. Representative Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), along with Tim Ryan (D-OH), Dave Joyce (R-OH), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) have partnered to introduce the Isolate COVID-19 Act.
According to a release, the legislation would establish a federal program for states to receive funding to lease hotel properties for the purpose of temporarily housing individuals who have contracted the coronavirus, but who lack the ability to isolate or quarantine in their own homes and want to isolate voluntarily.
According to research, transmission of the coronavirus typically occurs between household members and co-workers in close contact with each other. The transmissions often affect low-income Americans, who are more likely to work in tight quarters and live in smaller, crowded households.
.“Opening up hotels for voluntary isolation will help protect our families who need it the most, especially low-income Americans, wage workers, and minorities who are unable to effectively self-isolate in their homes,” Rep. Gonzalez said. “Until we can widely administer a vaccine for COVID-19, we need every tool at our disposal to help suppress the spread of the virus, including improving our ability to voluntarily isolate infected individuals,”
Added Congressman Ryan: “With nearly 80% of states seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases, we have to be thinking critically about how we’re going to decrease transmission. Because most transmissions occur between household members, this legislation is a key step in overcoming the spread of the virus. It also has the added benefit of giving a boost to local hotels who have been among the hardest-hit businesses during this pandemic. To beat this crisis, economic measures and health measures have to work hand-in-hand. If we don’t get transmission of the virus under control, we will not only continue to lose precious lives, but we’ll continue to prolong the economic downturn that has already hurt so many working class families.”
The full text of the bill can be found here.
