Illinois Republican tests positive for coronavirus

Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) revealed on Wednesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and said he plans to postpone upcoming events his office had planned for the near future as he quarantines.

{mosads}Davis, 50, said he took a test on Wednesday morning along with his wife, who tested negative for the disease, after his “temperature clocked in at 99 degrees Fahrenheit,” which is higher than normal for him.

“Having consulted with the Office of the Attending Physician (OAP) of Congress and local county health officials, our office is contacting constituents I have met with in-person within the previous 48 hours,” he said in a statement, citing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This morning, I tested positive for COVID-19. I will continue to serve my constituents and #IL13 virtually from home while I quarantine and until I receive a negative test.

Read my full statement here: https://t.co/0uUTXgWUlu

— US Rep Rodney Davis (@RodneyDavis) August 5, 2020

Davis said he takes COVID-19, which data shows has killed more than 150,000 people in the U.S., “very seriously” and that his wife “is a nurse and a cancer survivor, which puts her in an at-risk category like so many Americans.”

He added that his office’s planned events will be delayed until he tests negative for the disease.

“During these challenging times, protecting the public health is my highest priority. If you’re out in public, use social distancing, and when you can’t social distance, please wear a mask. All of us must do our part. That’s what it will take to get through this pandemic,” he added.

According to local media, Davis, who is also the ranking member of the House Administration Committee, is the first congressional member from Illinois to come down with the disease.