Lawmakers are starting to postpone overseas travel due to concerns about the coronavirus.

While congressional leaders are adamant that the Capitol will remain open to the public, members of Congress are scaling back their travel plans to limit exposure.

Several congressional delegations — also known as codels — that had been planned for next week's congressional recess are now on hold.

"One of the changes is that most of the codels have been canceled for next week," said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), who serves as vice chair of the Joint Economic Committee.

Beyer had been invited to be part of a delegation to the European Union with an itinerary that included a stop in Italy, where authorities on Monday announced a nationwide quarantine to contain a coronavirus outbreak. The trip has since been canceled.

Beyer, who had been unable to participate in the EU trip even before its cancellation, stressed that lawmakers will be working on the coronavirus response back in their districts during the recess.



"We may not be here voting, but we will all be working. It will be a special responsibility for each of us as members of Congress in our districts to continue to be the primary information providers on what's happening," Beyer said.

At least one lawmaker, Rep. Josh Harder (D-Calif.), announced Tuesday that he was postponing an in-person town hall meeting on the census that had been scheduled for next week. His office said in a statement that the decision was "the result of recommendations from public health agencies."

Harder will instead hold a telephone town hall this week with local health officials to give constituents an update on the coronavirus.