• 3 U.S. Senators test positive for COVID-19.
Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Angus King, I-Maine, and John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., announced Thursday that they have tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the latest members of the Senate to announce breakthrough infections in recent weeks.
Earlier this month, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he had tested positive for the virus. All four senators have been vaccinated.
In a statement, Mr. Wicker’s communications director, Phillip Waller, said the senator tested positive Thursday morning “after immediately seeking a test due to mild symptoms.”
“Senator Wicker is fully vaccinated against COVID19, is in good health, and is being treated by his Tupelo-based physician,” Mr. Waller said.
Mr. King announced that he took a test Thursday morning at his doctor’s suggestion after he had begun feeling “mildly feverish” on Wednesday. The test came back positive.
“While I am not feeling great, I’m definitely feeling much better than I would have without the vaccine,” Mr. King said in a statement Thursday afternoon. “I am taking this diagnosis very seriously, quarantining myself at home and telling the few people I’ve been in contact with to get tested in order to limit any further spread.”
Mr. King also noted the steps he has taken since last year to protect himself and others, including “driving up and back to Maine dozens of times rather than flying until only recently, Zoom calls instead of attending Senate hearings in person, voting quickly on the floor while remaining masked, regular testing for me and my staff, and receiving the vaccinations when it was my turn to get them earlier this year.”
Later Thursday afternoon, Mr. Hickenlooper announced that he had tested positive with a breakthrough case of the virus.
“I feel good but will isolate per docs instructions,” Mr. Hickenlooper said in a tweet. “I’m grateful for the vaccine (& the scientists behind it!) for limiting my symptoms.”