The coronavirus is taking a toll on Capitol Hill, as lawmakers begin reshaping day-to-day life an…

The coronavirus is taking a toll on Capitol Hill, as lawmakers begin reshaping day-to-day life and scramble to try to stop the spread of the quickly moving disease. 
For many, the matter is increasingly hitting close to home. There are growing reports that constituents have contracted the virus, several lawmakers have self-quarantined and one staffer announced they tested positive for COVID-19. 
While most lawmakers did not publicly project any fears, many quietly questioned how long it will be until the first member of Congress tests positive for the virus.
Sen. Dick DurbinRichard (Dick) Joseph DurbinSenate votes to reverse DeVos student loan ruleElbow bumps, Spock salutes: How Congress is dealing with coronavirusSenate to vote Wednesday on reversing DeVos student loan ruleMORE (D-Ill.) told The Hill that it wouldn’t surprise me if a lawmaker contracts the disease, adding, we are obviously very public figures, in touch with a lot of people, literally and physically. 
The coronavirus is more dangerous to older people, and the average age of House members is 58, while the average age of senators is 63.
Sen. Bill CassidyWilliam (Bill) Morgan CassidyPence pressed over coronavirus response in testy Senate briefing Overnight Health Care: Senators press Pence over coronavirus response in private briefing | Questions mount over testing delays | WHO says virus death rate higher than thought | Sports leagues take cautious approach amid outbreakSenators press Pence over coronavirus response in private briefingMORE (R-La.), who is a doctor, outlined a laundry list of steps he is taking to try to protect himself.
I’m going to do what everybody is advised to do sneeze into my sleeve. I’ve already gotten my flu shot. I carry with me Clorox wipes to clean my phone. I also have Purell, which I wash my hands regularly, he said during a Friday interview with Fox Business Network.
Adding to the fear and panic is how little is known about the disease, including how the virus spreads and how it affects individuals who test positive. 
In some ways the virus has already changed Capitol Hill at a basic level: Instead of handshakes, elbow bumps are preferred if contact must be made. Sen. Martin HeinrichMartin Trevor HeinrichGOP chairman cancels Hunter Biden-related subpoena voteSenate report says Obama officials were ‘not well-postured’ to respond to Russian hackingDemocratic senators ask banks to prohibit funding Arctic drilling MORE (D-N.M.) walked by a group of reporters and greeted them with a phrase that is in increased circulation in the building: Stay healthy.
On Friday, the hallways in the Capitol complex appeared almost deserted besides a member, staffer or reporter wandering towards food courts. The Rotunda, normally packed with tourists, was also largely empty save for a police officer and spill over from a press scrum from Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiTrump faces toughest crisis of presidency in coronavirusHouse passes bill to help prop up economy from coronavirusSecond Mar-a-Lago guest tests positive for coronavirusMOREs (D-Calif.) nearby office. 
It was a U-turn from Thursday when a group of visitors was given a tour just outside Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellHouse passes bill to help prop up economy from coronavirusOvernight Health Care Presented by Philip Morris International Why canceling events makes sense amid coronavirus | Ohio official says 100K people in state may have virus | Latest on talks over economic plan | Trump weighs emergency declarationOn The Money: Stocks suffer worst losses since 1987 crash amid coronavirus panic | Wall Street clamors for stimulus | Pelosi open to tweaking virus bill but won’t wait long for GOP MOREs (R-Ky.) office. Sen. Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann MurkowskiOvernight Energy: Senate confirms Trump pick for energy commission seat | Alaska judge stalls logging in Tongass National Forest | Senate Dems unveil B bill on contamination from ‘forever chemicals’ Senate confirms Trump pick for energy commission seatSenate environment committee to hear HFC proposal stalling energy bill passageMORE (R-Alaska) was spotted leading a small group around the Capitol, including taking them up a senators-only staircase.
Any tours public, member or staff-led are now on hold until April 1 under the new restrictions. The House and Senate sergeants-at-arms also announced they would block the public from accessing the Capitol or the office buildings unless it’s official business. Any visitors will have to be escorted by a Senate staff, with a limit placed on the group size. 
Signs posted on many congressional offices either alerted visitors that their offices were now closed, or that they were not shaking hands.
The House Financial Services Committee announced that it is canceling all of its March hearings. The House Veterans Affairs Committee is letting staff telework due to the public health risk posed by the COVID-19.
The decision to limit access to the Capitol comes after days of pressure for congressional leadership to take action over concerns that keeping the building running as normal was the exact opposite of the advice coming from public health officials. 
A message to congressional offices this week by the Capitols attending physical specifically recommended lawmakers avoid handshakes, hugs, selfies and other close direct contact, including large crowds. But over the past week, thats been next to impossible in the Capitol where hundreds of tourists brush up against lawmakers on a routine basis. 
Pelosi was spotted taking a selfie with tourists this week, and a woman stopped Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamHillicon Valley: Internet providers vow to maintain service amid coronavirus | Pentagon looks to revisit ‘war cloud’ decision | Gates steps down from Microsoft boardMiami mayor tests positive for coronavirusBrady PAC endorses Biden, plans to spend million in 2020MORE (R-S.C.) in the basement to talk about how she always saw him on TV. 
Even as they stressed taking preventative measures, senators were frequently spotted in close proximity with reporters and staffers. Senators, for example, left a briefing with administration officials about the virus only to quickly jump into gaggles. 
You know that a month ago, I might have said whoever the nominee of the party, we will enthusiastically embrace. And then I changed it to whoever the nominee is the party will enthusiastically elbow-bump. But somebody said to me, no, when you elbow bump you get close to the person. So, forget any physical contact greetings. Bow Eastern style, Pelosi told reporters, to laughter. 
Sen. John KennedyJohn Neely KennedyMORE (R-La.), standing closer to reporters than the recommended six feet, said that he was still shaking hands. 
Im not changing anything at all, he said. Number one, everybody’s not going to get the virus. Number two, everybody’s not going to die.
The architect of the Capitol, J. Brett Blanton, issued a memorandum that laid out steps for members of Congress and staff to take amid the outbreak. One suggestion in particular stood out: Refraining from jokes. 
We respectfully request refraining from posting joking signs (such as biohazard) on cubicles of colleagues, the memo reads. 
Many lawmakers signaled they are increasingly aware of the close quarters they keep with staff, reporters and their own colleagues.
Sen. Deb FischerDebra (Deb) Strobel FischerAs we face coronavirus battle, we must ensure critical supplies of respirators for health care workersTrump, GOP seek way forward on coronavirusNikki Haley expected to endorse Loeffler in Senate raceMORE (R-Neb.) repeated personal space, personal space, personal space, as she tried to make her way to a second-floor elevator off the Senate floor.
And Sen. John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneMcConnell cancels Senate break over coronavirusMcConnell, top GOP senators throw support behind surveillance deal as deadline loomsCongress pours cold water on Trump’s payroll tax cutMORE (R-S.D.), spotting a group of reporters waiting for him, appeared to make a joke about the tight space. 
No chance of catching coronavirus here, he said as he headed out of the Capitol, trailed closely by a staffer, his security detail and members of the press. 
Still, even with tourists temporarily banned from the building, lawmakers are at risk of contracting the disease from one of their colleagues.
To many, votes in both chambers are viewed as a possible breeding ground for the virus to spread because lawmakers use the time to circulate on the floor or pigeonhole an obstinate colleague. Members of leadership have shot down trying to vote remotely.
Obviously, the first time a member of Congress is diagnosed, if that should happen with coronavirus, then it’s going to put into very stark relief the difficult questions and decisions that will have to be made here, Rep. Denny HeckDennis (Denny) Lynn HeckExclusive: Guccifer 2.0 hacked memos expand on Pennsylvania House racesHeck enjoys second political windIncoming lawmaker feeling a bit overwhelmedMORE (D-Wash.) told CNNs Wolf Blitzer before the new restrictions were imposed. 
Adding fuel to those concerns, Capitol Hill got its first confirmed case of the coronavirus a staffer in Sen. Maria CantwellMaria Elaine CantwellTed Cruz extends self-quarantine after second coronavirus interactionSenate confirms Trump pick for energy commission seatMcConnell: ‘Congress will continue to do our work’ amid coronavirusMOREs (D-Wash.) office. 
The announcement sparked a domino effect among her colleagues with several quickly announcing they would also close temporarily their D.C. offices including Sens. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzActor Orlando Bloom to self-quarantineTed Cruz extends self-quarantine after second coronavirus interactionCIA employee in DC area shows signs of coronavirus: reportMORE (R-Texas), Chris MurphyChristopher (Chris) Scott MurphyGraham warns of ‘aggressive’ response to Iran-backed rocket attack that killed US troopsUS paints murky picture of Russian disinformation on coronavirusGOP chairman cancels Hunter Biden-related subpoena voteMORE (D-Conn.), Pat ToomeyPatrick (Pat) Joseph ToomeyNSA improperly collected US phone records in October, new documents showOvernight Defense: Pick for South Korean envoy splits with Trump on nuclear threat | McCain blasts move to suspend Korean military exercises | White House defends Trump salute of North Korean general WH backpedals on Trump’s ‘due process’ remark on gunsMORE (R-Pa.), Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneySenators vent frustration with senior officials over coronavirus testing shortfallTrump, GOP seek way forward on coronavirusWhy North Carolina is the state to watch this NovemberMORE (R-Utah), and Tom CottonThomas (Tom) Bryant CottonTed Cruz extends self-quarantine after second coronavirus interactionLawmakers introduce measure to freeze out Huawei from financial systemMcConnell: ‘Congress will continue to do our work’ amid coronavirusMORE (R-Ark.).