House

Ohio GOP congressman tests positive for COVID-19

by Lexi Lonas Cochran - 10/02/21 7:53 PM ET

Ohio Rep. Bob Gibbs (R) announced Thursday he had tested positive for the coronavirus.

“Earlier today, I was feeling under the weather with symptoms of a bad cold & was tested for COVID-19,” Gibbs said in a post on Twitter.

Gibbs said he is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus and that the vaccine has helped prevent “what could have been a worse infection.”

“I will be resting & recuperating the appropriate amount of time at home,” he added.

Earlier today, I was feeling under the weather with symptoms of a bad cold & was tested for COVID-19. While it was positive, I am vaccinated & it is so far preventing what could have been a worse infection. I will be resting & recuperating the appropriate amount of time at home.

— Rep. Bob Gibbs (@RepBobGibbs) October 1, 2021

He is one of multiple congressional lawmakers who has tested positive for the virus since the start of the pandemic.

Other congressional lawmakers who have tested positive for the virus include Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Angus King (I-Maine) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), Troy Nehls (R-Texas), Brian Babin (R-Texas), Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.), Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) and Darren Soto (D-Fla.).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that though certain variants of coronavirus can permeate vaccines and cause breakthrough infections, the shots do protect against severe symptoms, hospitalizations and death.

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh announced this week that he tested positive for the coronavirus, but was without symptoms of illness. Kavanaugh, an appointee of former President Trump, has been vaccinated since January.

The justice tested positive on Thursday ahead of a Friday investiture ceremony for Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

Babin, Armstrong and Gibbs all announced their positive COVID-19 tests this week amid grueling negotiations among Democrats over two infrastructure packages.