Rep. Don Young tests positive for COVID-19

On Wednesday, November 12, Don Young, Alaska’s only United States Representative, announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19. After not giving any updates on the severity of his illness, Young released a statement on Monday revealing that he had been discharged from Providence Medical Center after having been admitted over the weekend.

Young is 87-years-old and is considered by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to be at high risk for the virus. In his press release he said that he had “not felt this sick in a very long time,” but that he was recovering. “I want Alaskans to know that their Congressman is alive, feeling better, and on the road to recovery,” he wrote Monday.

The news of Young’s positive test came the day after the Associated Press announced that the congressman, already the longest-serving Republican in congress, had secured enough votes to enter his 25th term. It also came as both Alaska and the U.S. are seeing an uptick of the virus, with single day records in the state and nation. In response to these rising numbers, just hours before Young’s announcement, Governor Mike Dunleavy issued an emergency alert urging Alaskans to “do everything possible to reduce these cases and bend this trend downward.”

Young’s competitor, independent Alyse Galvin, has criticized Young for not taking the pandemic seriously enough. In March, Young infamously referred to COVD-19 as the “beer virus” and told a group of senior citizens to “go forth with everyday activities.” Shortly thereafter, though, Young reversed his position and emphasized the seriousness of the novel coronavirus. But in a debate with Galvin last month, Young said that he was more concerned about the possibility of inflation, which he said would be worse than the pandemic.

Despite their disagreements, Galvin, who also ran against Young in 2018, issued a statement wishing Young well. “I pray for Don Young’s swift recovery and for all Americans who are battling this virus,” wrote Galvin. She conceded the race to Young the next day.

It is unclear when exactly Young was exposed to the virus or if he tested positive on the same day he announced the diagnosis. According to the CDC, an individual typically develops symptoms five days after being infected, but symptoms can appear as late as 14 days after infection.