Florida Sen. Rick Scott Announces Positive COVID Test
Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said Friday he had tested positive for COVID-19 and was isolating at home with “very mild symptoms.”
He’s the second senator, along with Iowa’s Chuck Grassley, and at least the eighth member of Congress to announce a positive test this week.
Scott, 67, has been quarantining at home all week after coming into contact with someone who subsequently tested positive.
His office said he had “multiple negative rapid tests earlier in the week” but a separate test he took Tuesday came back positive Friday morning.
Scott, a Republican, said he was “feeling good” and would be working at his home in Naples.
“I want to remind everyone to be careful and do the right things to protect yourselves and others,” Scott said in a statement.
“Wear a mask. Social distance. Quarantine if you come in contact with someone positive like I did. As we approach Thanksgiving, we know this holiday will be different this year. But, listen to public health officials and follow their guidance.”
The former Florida governor was recently elected as the chairman of Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, leading GOP fundraising and recruiting efforts for the next two years.
Scott’s announcement came three days after Grassley, the longest-serving Republican senator and third in the line of presidential succession, also said he has tested positive.
Grassley, 87, was in the Senate on Monday but is now quarantining in his Virginia home.
The absence of Scott and Grassley on Tuesday helped Democrats block the nomination of Judy Shelton, President Donald Trump’s pick for the Federal Reserve.
Besides Sens. Scott and Grassley, at least six members of the House have announced that they tested positive for the virus in the last week: Republican Reps. Don Young of Alaska, Dan Newhouse of Washington, Doug Lamborn of Colorado and Tim Walberg of Michigan and Democratic Reps. Ed Perlmutter of Colorado and Cheri Bustos of Illinois.
Young, 87, is the longest-serving member of the House. In a statement released Monday, he said he had been discharged from the hospital and “I had not felt this sick in a very long time.”
A Republican congresswoman-elect who flipped an Iowa seat in this month’s election also said she tested positive.
Ashley Hinson, 37, said she would participate in this week’s House orientation virtually as she quarantined with her family in Iowa.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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