Two More Members of Congress Test Positive for Coronavirus
WASHINGTON – Reps. Joe Cunningham, D-S.C., and Mike Kelly, R-Pa. are the latest members of Congress to test positive for the coronavirus.
The representative from Charleston had already been in self-quarantine after learning from the attending physician of the House that he’d been in contact with another member who tested positive — Representative Ben McAdams, D-Utah.
In a statement released Friday, Cunningham said, “While I otherwise feel fine, since March 17th I have been unable to smell or taste, which I learned this week is a potential symptom of COVID-19.”
The representative had a virtual consultation with the Medical University of South Carolina, and then went to a local clinic for testing. He learned of his positive test Friday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Representative Kelly’s office said he began experiencing flu-like symptoms earlier this week and consulted his doctor.
On Friday, Kelly said his doctor “ordered a test for COVID-19, which I obtained at the drive-through testing site at Butler Memorial Hospital. My test came back positive this afternoon,” he said.
Neither lawmaker was in Washington for the House vote on the third coronavirus relief package.
In a series of tweets, Cunningham said he was all “set to come out of quarantine” Friday night, then learned he tested positive.
Cunningham said that “the medical advice I have received is that I should continue to stay self-quarantined for 14 days since experiencing my first symptom.
“That would allow me to come out of quarantine on Tuesday, but to be extra cautious, I will stay in quarantine until Wednesday,” he explained, adding that his wife and his son are “asymptomatic but will be self-quarantined.”
