One of the Democratic candidates for Congress is self-quarantining, and the incumbent Republican has ceased campaigning for the time being.
Dr. Christina Finello, the former deputy director of the Bucks County Housing and Human Services, announced on her campaign Facebook on Wednesday that she will be self-quarantining for next two weeks “out of an abundance of caution.”
“I’ve been feeling rundown these past few days, and yesterday I had a fever. While I have been practicing social distancing for the past week and a half, I know campaigning prior to social distancing rules may have increased my risk of exposure to coronavirus. As such, I have decided to follow the public health best practices and take this extra precaution,” Finello said.
The candidate said she “doing well.”
Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick announced last week that he had “ceased all campaign and fundraising operations and has focused 100 percent of our efforts on spearheading a volunteer mission in our community to collect items and provide assistance to those in need, to include our elderly citizens, our healthcare workers, our police officers, our firefighters, our medics, and all others who need our help right now.”
None of the other candidates – Democrat Skylar Hurwitz and Republicans Fitzpatrick and Andrew Meehan – have reported that they are self-quarantining due to COVID-19 or other illness.
While Fitzpatrick, who stands in the lead in terms of fundraising and name recognition, has paused campaigning, the other candidates appear to keep up efforts to gain voters, even if making their push virtually.
Hurwitz has been hosting online town halls and answering voter questions, while Meehan has been posting campaign materials on social media, streamed a concert from his shed, and released information on his lawn signs. Finello has been posting various health resources and has planned a virtual fundraiser with Montgomery County Commissioner Dr. Val Arkoosh, Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, former Congressman and U.S. Under Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy, and former congressional candidate Scott Wallace and his wife Christy. Ticket prices for the virtual fundraiser range from $50 to $2,800.
Candidates for office are often exposed to numerous people very day and often make physical contact through handshakes.
“I encourage anyone who thinks they may have been exposed or is feeling under the weather to take the necessary precautions—self-quarantine, monitor your symptoms, and call your doctor to determine if you need to be tested,” Finello said.
All the candidates have postponed in-person events into next month.
The primary election has been pushed from April 28 to June 2.
Editor’s Note: Publisher/Editor Tom Sofield’s father, Chris, is Meehan’s campaign manager.
