(CNN) Members of the US House of Representatives will not return to Washington next week, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Tuesday morning, a reversal from the plan Democratic leaders announced fewer than 24 hours earlier.

"We have decided we will not come back next week, but we will come back very soon to pass the CARES 2 piece of legislation, and at that time we will be asking members to return to the Congress, to Washington," Hoyer told reporters on a call.

He said the Capitol attending physician Brian Monahan "forcefully" emphasized that the numbers of novel coronavirus infections in DC are still going up and that some surrounding areas in Maryland are hotspots.

"The House physician's view was that there was a risk to members that was one he would not recommend taking," said Hoyer.

In light of Monahan's stance, as well as the fact that the next coronavirus relief package will not be "definitely ready to be considered next week," Democratic leaders chose not to call the House back next week.

Read More