Sen. Tillis tests positive for COVID 

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said Tuesday he tested positive for COVID-19 and would miss votes this week in the Senate. 

His office confirmed to The Hill he plans to return to Washington next week. 

Tillis, who planned to host a Halloween “dog parade” Tuesday, said he no longer would be able to attend but suggested Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) could take his place.

“Unfortunately I have COVID and won’t be able to kick off today’s Bipawtisan Howl-o-ween Dog Parade. But believe me, it will all work out. I know the perfect person for the job…,” Tillis wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, with a picture of Romney holding a soccer ball and a referee whistle. 

The most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a slight dip in positive COVID-19 cases and an increase in COVID-19 deaths. The week of Oct. 15-21 showed a test positivity rate of 8.7 percent, a decrease of 0.7 percent from the previous week. 

The same week showed the percentage of all deaths due to COVID-19 was 2.7 percent, an increase of 12.5 percent from the previous week. 

The Biden administration and public health officials have encouraged people to get their updated vaccinations ahead of the winter months.