US Senator, Rand Paul tests positive for coronavirus

Republican Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky on Sunday March 22, became the first known US senator to test positive for coronavirus. 

According to his office, he is asymptomatic and is not aware of making direct contact with an infected person. Paul was reportedly “tested out of an abundance of caution.”

A statement shared on his Twitter page reads; 

“Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19. 

“He is feeling fine and is in quarantine. He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person.

“He expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends and will continue to work for the people of Kentucky at this difficult time,” the thread continued. Ten days ago, our D.C. office began operating remotely, hence virtually no staff has had contact with Senator Rand Paul.”

GOP senators told CNN Paul was in the gym with colleagues on Sunday morning, and several others pointed out how close Paul had sat to others during Senate lunches in recent days. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas said he saw Paul in the Senate swimming pool Sunday, according to a source in the GOP lunch.

Paul is the third member of Congress to announce a positive test for coronavirus, following Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., and Ben McAdams, D-Utah. 

The coronavirus pandemic is hitting the United States too hard with a world record
13,960 new cases recorded on Sunday, spiking the national total to 38,167. The death toll also received a bump with 94 new deaths, making 396 overall.