Democratic rep tests positive for COVID-19 upon return from Ukraine trip

Rep. Colin Allred (D-Tex.) announced Sunday he has tested positive for COVID-19 in a breakthrough case after returning from congressional trip to Ukraine. 

Allred was among 10 House members who recently met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other officials during two days of meetings amid the mounting tension between Ukraine and Russia. 

“After testing negative before boarding our flight home and again when I returned home, I tested positive for COVID-19 today,” Allred said in a statement, adding that he tested negative throughout the trip, then again before leaving Ukraine and again upon arriving in the U.S. 

“I feel well and I will be following guidelines from the CDC and House Attending Physician to quarantine and keep others safe,” he added.

“Despite this diagnosis, this was still a vitally important trip, where my colleagues and I heard directly from NATO, EU and Ukrainian officials about the threat of Russian aggression. Our bipartisan delegation traveled thousands of miles and together, showed our strong commitment to the Ukrainian people,” Allred added. 

The congressional delegation was led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and also included Reps. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Ami Bera (D-Calif.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Mark Green (R-Tenn.), August Pfluger (R-Texas), Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) and Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.).

Allred, a second-term congressman, said he is fully vaccinated with a booster shot. “Thankfully so far, my symptoms are mild and I am glad to have the protection of a safe vaccine. If you haven’t, please get your vaccination and booster shot as soon as you can,” he concluded. 

Allred’s announcement comes after several fellow lawmakers including Reps. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa.), David Trone (D-Md.),  Jim Cooper (R-Tenn.), Sean Casten (D-Ill.), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) announced they have tested positive for the novel virus this month. 

Nearly a quarter of federal lawmakers have tested positive for the virus since the start of the pandemic. 

The omicron wave of the virus appears to be on the decline across the country, with average daily cases falling to around 500,000 from a peak above 800,000 two weeks ago.