Mitch McConnell seen with purple 'bruised' fingers again after denying health issues, people ask if it's Covid-19
Just days after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was seen with bandaid on his hands and blue lips, and denied having any health problems despite the controversial snaps, new photographs taken on Wednesday, October 28, once again showed McConnell appearing to still have dark patches on his knuckles, renewing concerns for his health.
The snaps were taken during a Kentucky campaign event where the purplish discolorations of certain portions of his hands stood in stark contrast to his pale white skin. We previously reported that after an Associated Press-distributed photograph captured the Senate Majority Leader standing with bruised and discolored hands last week, it created quite a buzz on Twitter. The photo was captioned: "Hands of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are seen as he talks to the media after the Republican policy luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington on October 20, 2020. Photo by Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Sipa USA." The Kentucky Republican's lips and the area surrounding his mouth was also discolored and seemed to appear like a deep blue bruise.
After a string of comments surfaced online about his ill health, he brushed off the questions and told reporters he is healthy on Thursday, October 22. "But I'm serious, is there anything going on we should know about?" a concerned reporter quizzed McConnell about his health in an off-camera interaction. Dodging the question, he snapped, "Of course not!"
Many people can't stop wondering if he has contracted Covid-19 – especially after President Donald Trump was diagnosed with coronavirus earlier this month – after a serious outbreak at the White House during Amy Coney Barrett's convocation ceremony in the Rose Garden. One physician consulted by Daily Mail speculated the bruising could be a combination of McConnell taking anticoagulation medication and experiencing "repetitive trauma."
The health concerns also drew a reaction from the Democratic party. "It's understandable that Senator McConnell might not want to discuss questions about his health so close to an election," Marisa McNee, a spokesperson for Kentucky Democratic Party, told Buzzfeed News. "But as Senate Majority Leader, he is a public figure which requires more disclosure and transparency than just the average private person." She added, "It's not clear why he's suddenly become so secretive, but we certainly wish him well and hope he is okay."
After he was seen with a similar skin condition in the Kentucky event, Manhattan-based dermatologist Dr. Doris Day recently told the Sun that there was most likely nothing to worry about regarding McConnell's health as it was a common condition senior citizens get as they age called senile purpura. "Your skin just naturally becomes more fragile as you age," Day said. "I think it’s just a bruise," she continued, "a solid good bruise."
However, she warned that should McConnell continue to show signs of bruising in his hands, he should consult a doctor immediately. "It’s not a problem if it goes away. If you do bruise and the bruise does not go away, then you need to see a hematologist," she said, adding that a blood doctor would effectively be able to diagnose underlying issues.