First senator to test positive for disease
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has confirmed he has tested positive for the coronavirus, making him he first senator to officially contract the disease.
Paul’s Twitter account sent the announcement:
“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 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.
Paul, who has served as a U.S. Senator from Kentucky since 2011, is currently in quarantine and is feeling fine, according to Deputy Chief of Staff Sergio Gor.
“He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to this extensive travel and events,” Gor said in an email.
“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.”
“Ten days ago, our D.C. office began operating remotely, hence virtually no staff has had contact with Senator Paul.”
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.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 22, 2020
The news comes days after an employee for NBC News died from the Chinese coronavirus.