House Majority Leader Hoyer Tests Positive for COVID-19
WASHINGTON — House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Tuesday that he’s tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the latest fully vaccinated member of Congress to contract the virus.
Hoyer, the second-ranking House Democrat, said in an email to reporters that he is experiencing mild symptoms, “[but] thankfully, I am fully vaccinated and already received my booster shot.”
“In line with CDC guidelines and guidance from the Office of the Attending Physician, I will be working from home this week during my isolation period,” Hoyer said, “and in order to protect the safety of other members, staff, employees, and visitors to the Capitol, I will utilize proxy voting.”
“I look forward to returning to the Capitol once my isolation period is over to continue carrying out the important work of leading House Democrats as we govern responsibly for the people,” he added.
Hoyer is the second member of House Democratic leadership in the past several weeks to test positive for the virus. Just before Christmas, House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., also tested positive though in his case he said he was asymptomatic.
He also noted at the time that he is fully vaccinated and that he had a booster shot in September.
“America is in a new phase of this pandemic,” he said. “No one is immune to this virus. I urge anyone who has not done so to get their vaccines and boosters. It is the best protection against severe disease and possible death.”
On Tuesday evening, Hoyer said he is grateful “to the researchers, scientists, and medical experts who worked hard to develop the COVID-19 vaccines and to all the extraordinary public health workers and volunteers in our communities who have tirelessly worked to get shots into arms.”
To date, at least 54 House members, including Hoyer, have contracted breakthrough cases of COVID-19, as have 12 senators.
On the House side on Tuesday night, the number climbed by another one, after Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., announced that he too had tested positive “after proactively taking a rapid antigen test prior to attending a public event.”
“Earlier this morning, I had a negative result from a rapid antigen test before a scheduled television studio interview. Thankfully, I am fully vaccinated and have received a booster shot. I am not presently exhibiting any symptoms, and am able to effectively work from home while isolating this week, as per CDC guidelines and guidance from the House Attending Physician,” Schneider said.
Like his colleagues, he strongly encouraged all who have not yet received the vaccine to get their shots, “and if you haven’t yet received your booster, please do so as soon as possible,” he said.
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