Sen. Coons announces postitive COVID-19 test

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) is the latest lawmaker to announce he has tested positive for COVID-19. 

In a statement on Thursday, Coons said after testing regularly for COVID-19 in recent weeks with rapid and PCR tests, he received a positive diagnosis Wednesday night. 

“I have minimal symptoms so far and am optimistic I will recover well after isolating and following CDC guidelines. Like millions of other families, it seems we’ll also be wrestling with another holiday spent on Zoom and cancelled plans for travel or gathering,” he said.

Like millions of other families, it seems we’ll also be wrestling with another holiday spent on Zoom and cancelled plans for travel or gathering.

— Senator Chris Coons (@ChrisCoons) December 23, 2021

“As we deal with the sharp rise in Omicron cases here in Delaware and across the country, I urge you to get tested regularly, and get vaccinated and boosted if you haven’t already,” Coons added. “We all must continue to do our part to fight this pandemic and keep each other healthy.”

The U.S. is dealing with a winter surge of COVID-19 infections as the omicron variant now makes up a majority of daily new coronavirus cases.  

Coons’s announcement comes as other U.S. lawmakers including Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Reps. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), have also tested positive for COVID-19.