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Wisconsin Republicanlawmakers and top GOP aideshave been facing a coronavirus outbreak in recent weeks followinga series of in-person events, including aretirement party for a longtime Capitol staffer, a dozen sources told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

But Republican leaderswould not disclose how many or which lawmakers have contracted COVID-19, nor would they answer questions about contact tracing efforts including whether anyone worked at the state Capitol after they were exposed to the virus.

Those affected by the COVID-19 outbreak include JennyToftness, chief of staff for Speaker Robin Vos, who got sick after attending theretirement party in September.

"Jenny was exposed at the gathering," Vos spokeswoman Kit Beyer said. "As soon as she found out she was exposed, she went into quarantine and is now fully recovered."

Beyer said Vos had not recently been in close contact with Toftness.

"Robin has not been exposed," Beyer said. "He does not have COVID."

She said Vos, a Republican from Rochester,has been working in his district as he seeks reelection andhas rarely been in the Capitol in recent weeks.

Sources told the Journal Sentinel that Toftness was one of at least six people who got sick after attendingthe retirement party and otherrecent events. Others included GOP lawmakers, staffers and at least two lobbyists, the sources said.

Vos declined to be interviewed.

It's unclear whetherthose who were infectednotified anyCapitol authorities, who could alert others who work in the statehouse.

"We are not aware of anyreportsfrom either legislators or legislative staff," Britt Cudaback, spokeswoman for Gov. Tony Evers, said in an email in response to questions about COVID-19 policies of the Department of Administration, which oversees the Capitol.

Scott Kelly, an aide to GOP Sen. Van Wanggaard, said on Twitter there is "no evidence anyone got COVID in the building. Or that they are currently working in the building."

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Amanda Jorgenson, director of the Legislature's human resources department, did not respond to questions about whether the office received reports of infections or potential exposures among people who work in the Capitol, or whether the Legislature has a policy on notifying others in the statehouse about potential exposures to the virus.

Rep. David Bowen, D-Milwaukee, tested positive for COVID-19 in March and issued a news release about his infection.

Rep. Scott Allen, R-Waukesha, also told reporters about his recent infection.

Bowen said releasing the information was necessary because of his publicposition.

"I felt it was necessary as a public lawmaker to share, not to just hide in my house for several weeks hoping that Id be OKbut essentially just to be transparent with the public that this thing is real," Bowen said. "It's really important. Instead of feeding our sense of embarrassment or being so protective of yourself that you're not protecting the public."

Evers has said that any state workerwith suspected, confirmedor direct exposure to COVID-19 should notify their supervisor, who would then notify human resources, which would thennotify otherswho were inclose contact with thereportingemployee.

Employees arethen asked to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days, andthe worksite is cleaned and disinfected.

Policies on such issues for lawmakers and legislative staffers would be set by legislative leaders, not Evers.

Vos and Senate Majority Leader ScottFitzgerald have both been vocal critics of Evers' mask mandate and other efforts aimed at combating the spread of COVID-19.

Fitzgerald has alsoinsisted that state Senate employees don't need to wear masks while working at the Capitol.

"I won'tbe pushed around by Dane County or the Evers Administration we control the Senate wing,"Fitzgerald told the Associated Press in July. "Senators should be able to decide what they do in their own offices."

It's unclear whether those infected with the virus contracted itat the retirement partyoranother event. Sources have cited the partyas well as a fundraiser held last month by the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee aspotential sources of the outbreak.

The Committee to Elect a Republican Senateheld another fundraiser shortly before the Assembly event.

Republicans have continued to havein-person events, fundraisers and rallies, and have not required attendees to wear masks.

On Thursday, at least five Assembly Republican lawmakers attended an indoor event hosted by Pro-Life Wisconsin and were not wearing masks in photos posted to Twitter by Rep. Ken Skowronski, R-Franklin. The post was later deleted.

Democrats have instead largely shifted to virtual fundraisers, socially distanced, outdoor campaign stops and drive-in rallies.

Gail Scott,health officer for theJefferson County Health Department, said her office did not have any information about theSept. 17 fundraiser held at Milford Hills in Johnson Creek for the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee.

A Milford Hills manager declined to comment when asked about any COVID-19 cases linked to the fundraiser, other than telling a Journal Sentinel reporter that it was "an outdoor event."

Republicans who control the Legislature have faced criticism recently for not putting forward strategies to combat the coronavirus, especially as Wisconsin faces one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the country.

The Wisconsin Legislature has been the least active full-time state legislative body in the country since states began taking measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a WisPolitics.com review published earlier this month.

Vos on Friday wrote on Facebook that criticism of the Legislature's inactivity is unfair.

"(Gov. Tony)Evers hasn't given us any concrete ideas as to what we could pass beyond the comprehensive bill we already supported," Vos wrote in response to criticism from his opponent. "He wants to shut down the state, I oppose that. Beyond that, ask yourself what else could be done to fight the virus beyond following the CDC guidelines. This is fear-mongering and really disappointing behavior from Gov Evers."

Legislative leaders are in court now trying to throw out Evers' statewide mask mandate. CDC guidelines includewearing a mask when around other people.

The mandate is supported by a vast majority of Wisconsin voters, according to recent Marquette University Law School polling.

The GOP lawmakers already have the power to end the mask mandate by voting to end the governor's health emergency. But instead, legislative leaders are opting to spend taxpayer dollars to hire private attorneys to accomplish the same goal.

Daniel Bice and Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.

Contact Mary Spicuzza and Molly Beck atmary.spicuzza@jrn.comand molly.beck@jrn.com. Follow on Twitter at @MSpicuzzaMJSand @mollybeck.

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Wisconsin Republicans have been facing an outbreak among lawmakers and aides. But they don't want to talk about it. - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel