Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced Monday that he has tested positive for COVID.
Manchin shared the news on his Twitter account.
“This morning I tested positive for COVID-19,” Manchin tweeted. “I am fully vaccinated and boosted and am experiencing mild symptoms. I will isolate and follow CDC guidelines as I continue to work remotely to serve West Virginians.”
This morning I tested positive for COVID-19. I am fully vaccinated and boosted and am experiencing mild symptoms. I will isolate and follow CDC guidelines as I continue to work remotely to serve West Virginians.
— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) July 25, 2022
The senator’s announcement is the latest of several positive coronavirus tests among the nation’s lawmakers, including President Joe Biden, who tested positive last week.
In the Senate, Democratic Sens. Tom Carper (DE) and Tina Smith (MN) also recently tested positive for COVID. If additional senators test positive and cannot vote on legislation, it could impact upcoming bills in the 50-50 chamber.
Carper tested positive on July 21 and could return to the Senate later this week.
I am grateful to be fully vaccinated and double boosted and I am thankfully feeling fine. I continue to urge all Delawareans to get vaccinated and boosted to protect yourselves and your families from the worst of this pandemic.
— Senator Tom Carper (@SenatorCarper) July 21, 2022
Smith tested positive on July 20 and could return to the Senate as early as Tuesday if symptoms improve and she tests negative.
Tonight I tested positive for COVID and am experiencing mild symptoms. I am following the CDC’s guidelines, and I am incredibly grateful to be vaccinated and boosted. Looking forward to getting back to the Senate as soon as possible.
— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) July 20, 2022
The Senate is currently scheduled to vote on a health care measure this week that would lower prescription drug prices and increase the amount of funding available under the Affordable Care Act.
The CDC’s guidelines currently include five days of isolation if symptoms improve. The requirements will keep him out of Senate sessions for at least this week.
Sunday, Biden’s personal doctor shared a note that reported the president’s coronavirus infection condition is improving “significantly.”
Dr. Kevin O’Connor provided the note shared by the White House on Sunday. Biden tested positive on Thursday. O’Connor said on Saturday that the president has the BA.5 variant, according to the Associated Press.
Both the BA.4 and BA.5 variants are considered offshoots of the highly contagious Omicron variant and have been responsible for most of the new cases in the U.S.
“Currently, many Americans are under-vaccinated, meaning they are not up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said earlier this month during a COVID response team briefing that urged Americans to stay up to date on vaccinations.
“Not all people over the age of 50 have received their first booster dose. Of those who have received their first booster dose, only 28 percent of those over 50 have received a second booster dose. And of those over 65, only 34 percent have received their second booster dose,” she added.
Vice President Kamala Harris also tested positive for COVID in April. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff tested positive in March.
Also in March, then-White House press secretary Jen Psaki tested positive for a second time, while then-deputy press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre also tested positive.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was among other Washington leaders who have tested positive in recent months. She revealed her positive test in early April after hugging former President Barack Obama and standing near Biden.