Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE (R-Ky.) on Thursday threw his support behind a decision to limit public access to the Capitol while signaling the Senate will otherwise continue business as normal.

"Congress will continue to do our work. Offices will be able to welcome constituents and visitors for meetings and official business by appointment," McConnell said from the Senate floor.

"But in deference to the experts, and to protect the health of the many Americans who travel to our nation’s capital, tourism and nonofficial access to the Capitol and the complex will be put on pause," he added.

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McConnell's comments come after new restrictions were issued for visiting the Capitol complex. In addition to suspending Capitol tours, access to the Capitol and the House and Senate office buildings "will be limited to members, staff, credentialed press and official business visitors."

“Their decision was made in close consultation with the Attending Physician of the United States Congress, Dr. Brian Monahan. I fully support the decision of these nonpartisan officers," McConnell added.

McConnell's comments come after the Capitol Hill community got its first case of coronavirus when Sen. Maria Cantwell Maria Elaine CantwellHillicon Valley: Zuckerberg acknowledges failure to take down Kenosha military group despite warnings | Election officials push back against concerns over mail-in voting, drop boxes Bipartisan senators call for investigation of popular fertility app The Hill's Coronavirus Report: Mike Roman says 3M on track to deliver 2 billion respirators globally and 1 billion in US by end of year; US, Pfizer agree to 100M doses of COVID-19 vaccine that will be free to Americans MORE (D-Wash.) announced that a staffer had tested positive.

Congressional leadership has been under growing pressure to limit access to the building, or change the congressional schedule, to try to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Anxiety on Capitol Hill has been particularly high given the advanced age of a large swath of lawmakers.

The House has held several meetings with the attending physician to try to encourage best practices including hand-washing, avoiding shaking hands and "social distancing." But avoiding crowds in the Capitol has been difficult.

Sens. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzSenate Republicans face tough decision on replacing Ginsburg Cruz: Trump should nominate a Supreme Court justice next week Renewed focus on Trump's Supreme Court list after Ginsburg's death MORE (R-Texas) and Tom Cotton Tom Bryant CottonRenewed focus on Trump's Supreme Court list after Ginsburg's death Republicans call for DOJ to prosecute Netflix executives for releasing 'Cuties' Loeffler calls for hearing in wake of Netflix's 'Cuties' MORE (R-Ark.) announced on Thursday that they would temporarily close their Washington, D.C., offices and let their staff telework.