Senators Roger Wicker, Republican of Mississippi, Angus King, impartial of Maine, and John Hickenlooper, Democrat of Colorado, mentioned on Thursday that they’d examined constructive for the coronavirus, including to the variety of breakthrough circumstances amongst lawmakers.
“Senator Wicker is absolutely vaccinated towards Covid-19, is in good well being and is being handled by his Tupelo-based doctor,” his spokesman, Phillip Waller, mentioned in a statement released by his office, including that the senator was experiencing solely gentle signs.
The announcement from Mr. Wicker got here as his residence state has shattered earlier data for brand new circumstances this week, and is now reporting extra new circumstances relative to its inhabitants than every other state within the nation. Mississippi is averaging 118 new circumstances a day for each 100,000 individuals, in line with data compiled by The New York Times.
Mr. King’s assertion mentioned he was symptomatic however taking advisable precautions.
“Whereas I’m not feeling nice, I’m undoubtedly feeling a lot better than I might have with out the vaccine,” he mentioned. “I’m taking this prognosis very significantly, quarantining myself at residence and telling the few individuals I’ve been involved with to get examined to be able to restrict any additional unfold.”
Mr. Hickenlooper said on Twitter that he was experiencing restricted signs and expressed gratitude to scientists who had developed the vaccine. He additionally inspired vaccinated individuals to get booster photographs in accordance with a plan that the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention announced this week.
The Senate is in recess this week after adjourning early final Wednesday, leaving it unclear whether or not any of the lads had been in latest contact with different lawmakers, in addition to when or the place they have been first uncovered. Their diagnoses deliver to 11 the variety of senators who’ve examined constructive to date, in line with information experiences compiled by Ballotpedia, a political information web site; greater than 50 members of the Home have examined constructive.
A number of different vaccinated politicians have not too long ago introduced breakthrough circumstances of their very own, together with Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who said he tested positive for the virus after attending a gathering hosted by Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia.
On Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas tested positive and started receiving an antibody therapy, highlighting each the rising considerations over breakthrough circumstances in america and the political tensions over public well being measures that Mr. Abbott has persistently opposed in his residence state.
Whereas Mr. Wicker has inspired his constituents to get vaccinated and has applauded the nationwide vaccination effort in official statements, he has additionally resisted parts of the Biden administration’s coronavirus response. In June, he introduced a resolution calling on the C.D.C. to finish a masks mandate for vaccinated individuals on public transportation.
Because the Delta variant spreads aggressively, infections in vaccinated individuals have been seen extra continuously, although they’re nonetheless uncommon. The surge and the rising frequency of breakthrough infections have prompted companies to increase public well being measures. The Transportation Safety Administration mentioned on Tuesday that the mask mandate would stay in impact on public transportation by way of Jan. 18.
