Where's Jim Jordan?

SANDUSKY — Is he quarantining or not? That's one of the questions the Register asked U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan on Thursday. Jordan, R-Ohio, likely should have started a 14-day quarantine period last week after President Trump announced that he had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus Oct. 1. But four days after the president's announcement — on Monday — Jordan obtained a letter from Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending physician for Congress, stating that Jordan did not have to quarantine because he had tested negative for the virus in a test he'd taken on Friday, Oct. 2 three days after he was with Trump aboard Air Force One. Monahan, who has not returned telephone calls seeking clarification, told Jordan in a letter — that appears to have been typed on a typewriter — that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines did not require Jordan to quarantine. But the guidelines appear to state exactly the opposite of what Monahan told Jordan. "Even if you test negative for COVID-19 or feel healthy, you should quarantine since symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus," the guidelines state. The Register left messages for Monahan asking specifically about the guidelines and whether he would be issuing a correcting statement for Jordan, advising him that he should quarantine. Jordan flew to Cleveland with Trump on Sept. 29 to attend the first presidential debate and spent more than enough time with Trump that it would make him a person who would be contact-traced and told to quarantine. Under the guidelines, it appears Jordan should have quarantined for 14 days after he was with Trump on Air Force One. Jordan and his opponent, Democrat Shannon Freshour, were scheduled to attend a debate at the Sandusky Register on Monday. Freshour told the Register she was willing to attend the debate but she was awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test. She said she had been with someone on Sept. 25 who later tested positive for the virus, which prompted her to seek a test. Based on those concerns the Register postponed the debate. But Jordan told the Register he'd been cleared to attend the debate and he was at the Register on Monday. He told newsroom staff he'd been cleared, based on Monahan's letter, but it appears he was misinformed. Watch Monday's fiery interview with Jim Jordan: Jordan stands by Trump Jordan did not respond to inquiries sent to him on Thursday, asking if he is now quarantining, and to questions about if he could assist in asking Dr. Monahan to clarify or respond to concerns that the information he provided Jordan appears to be inaccurate to what the CDC guidelines state. Monahan's office manager refused to provide a reporter his full name and repeatedly stated that the Register's inquiry had been "forwarded to our management team." He refused to identify members of the management team or provide an email address for the team, for the office, or for Monahan. The Attending Physician's Office does not appear to have a website or a publicly disclosed email address. Freshour told the Register she received a negative test result on Thursday for a COVID-19 test she took on Sunday. She said her contact with the person who later tested positive was outdoors and both were wearing masks. A 14-day quarantine period for her would likely extend out until today. The 14-day period for Jordan, based upon when he was with Trump, would last until about Tuesday, Oct. 13. Freshour and Jordan both attended a Rotary Club debate in St. Mary's, Ohio, on this just passed Tuesday. Freshour wore a mask during the debate; Jordan did not wear a mask. Jordan was first elected in 2007. The 4th District is a gerrymandered district that includes a slice of Erie County and extends about 157 miles from Lorain County to near the Indiana border, including Huron, Sandusky and Seneca counties.