Larry Hogan tests positive for COVID-19 breakthrough case

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, becoming the latest high-ranking individual in the political world to come down with a breakthrough infection amid a nationwide surge in cases.

Hogan wrote on Twitter Monday morning that he received a positive rapid test for COVID-19 during his “regular testing routine.” He said he is vaccinated and received a booster shot and is “feeling fine at the moment.”

The governor also encouraged individuals to get vaccinated or receive the booster shot “as soon as possible” as the omicron strain “becomes more dominant.”

As the Omicron variant becomes dominant, I want to urge you to get vaccinated or get your booster shot as soon as possible. https://t.co/MjHeoZ5E5J

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) December 20, 2021

Hogan’s positive test announcement came one day after Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) all revealed that they had COVID-19 breakthrough cases.

All three Congressional lawmakers are fully vaccinated and have received their booster shots. Crow said he tested positive after returning from an official congressional delegation trip to Ukraine.

The positive cases come as the U.S. is seeing a spike in cases nationwide, with the highly mutated omicron variant spreading across the country. The variant was first detected in South Africa last month.

Dr. Anthony Fauci last week said the omicron variant will likely become the dominant strain in the U.S. in “a few weeks.” Health officials are encouraging individuals to begin their initial vaccination series or get their booster shots as omicron spreads.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote on its website that breakthrough infections are expected because COVID-19 vaccines are not 100 percent effective in protecting against the virus.

Fully vaccinated individuals who test positive for the virus, however, are less likely to develop serious illness compared to individuals who are not inoculated, according to the health agency.