Kentucky Republican Rand Paul is the first member of the US Senate to report test positive for the disease caused by the new coronavirus, according to a statement on Twitter.
Paul is the third member of Congress to be diagnosed with coronavirus, representatives Mario Diaz-Balart, Florida Rep., and Ben McAdams, Democratic Rep. Utah, previously tested positive.
“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,” Paul’s Tweeter post said.
Paul attended a fundraiser for the Speed Art Museum in Louisville on March 7, which was attended by a woman who later tested positive for COVID-19, Kentucky reported.
His positive test comes amid continuing shortages of tests nationwide. US citizens are asking him how could he get tested while “feeling fine” when people who are deathly ill can’t?
“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 Rand Paul,” the post said.
