Maryland Democrat experiencing mild symptoms after positive COVID-19 test

Maryland Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D) announced on Tuesday he was experiencing mild symptoms after recently testing positive for COVID-19. 

“I tested positive for COVID-19 last night and am quarantining at home with mild symptoms. I am fully vaccinated and boosted,” Ruppersberger said in a post on Twitter. 

“We all need to do what we can to protect our families, colleagues and healthcare heroes – please get your shots, limit gatherings and mask up,” he added. 

Ruppersberger is one of several members of Congress who have announced positive COVID-19 cases this week. Rep Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday that he had tested positive for the virus, adding that he was fully vaccinated and boosted and experiencing mild “cold-like” symptoms. 

Reps. Sean Casten (D-Ill.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Young Kim (R-Calif.) announced that they had tested positive for the virus over the weekend. 

Coronavirus cases have been on the rise in the U.S. and across the globe due to the highly contagious omicron variant. 

The U.S. has reported a record number of hospitalizations this week, and several states, including Maryland, have recently declared states of emergency due to omicron. 

“The truth is that the next four to six weeks will be the most challenging of the entire pandemic,” Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said.

He also activated 1,000 National Guard members to help hospitals in the state that have been overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases.