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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – US sen. Bill Cassidy announced Thursday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus and is experiencing some COVID-19 symptoms. He said he quarantines in Louisiana.
The Republican senator, 62, who is running for re-election on Nov. 3, is experiencing “mild symptoms that started this morning,” of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, his spokeswoman Cole Avery said. Cassidy is at least the 13th member of Congress known to have tested positive for the coronavirus and only the second senator.
Cassidy, a doctor from Baton Rouge who regularly wears a mask both in public and on Capitol Hill, said in a statement that he was tested after he was notified Wednesday night that he was exposed to someone who it’s infected with the virus. The senator said he is following up on medical advice and reporting people with whom he may have come in contact.
“I strictly follow the direction of our medical experts and strongly encourage others to do the same,” he said.
A few hours later, the senator posted a short video on Twitter to “thank people for their concerns and let them know I’m fine.” He also set a tone for his legislation in search of more money for coronavirus testing.
Cassidy’s announcement came a day after he was in Northern Louisiana, visiting a veterans’ hospital in Shreveport, where he posted a photo with a facility official.
His positive test comes as some Senate Republicans put majority leader Mitch McConnell under pressure to encourage testing for senators. McConnell and Second Chamber member Nancy Pelosi have firmly insisted that there should be no special access for legislators as long as the general public does not have widespread testing in the workplace. They both said equipment and testing should instead be focused on frontline workers.
McConnell also said he does not see the need for mask mandates in the Senate, where workspaces are more widespread and most members and staff have worn faithful masks. In July, Pelosi and Capitol officials extended broad new mask mandates to a Republican who had walked the halls without a mask testing positive.
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, was the first senator to carry the virus. He received a positive test in March but was asymptomatic. Paul, who is also a doctor, has since refused to wear a mask on Capitol Hill because he says he already has the virus. It is not yet clear if a person can re-contract the virus.
Cassidy faces 14 opponents in the November vote, but is set to win a second-term election in a deep red state, with the support of President Donald Trump and a $ 6 million campaign account. His opponent with the highest profile is Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins, a Democrat.
