Virginia Rep. Morgan Griffith tested positive for the coronavirus five days after attending a press conference with several other members of Congress.
Griffith’s staff announced that the congressman had tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. Griffith, a Republican in the House Freedom Caucus, was tested for the virus “over the weekend” and had been isolating himself since taking the test.
The congressman attended an outdoor press conference with the House Freedom Caucus on Thursday. During the press conference, only Griffith and Maryland Rep. Andy Harris wore face coverings. Griffith’s office told Politico that the congressman “was not aware of any symptoms on Thursday at the time of the press conference.”
“He has notified colleagues whom he was in contact with, but our office has no further comment regarding their names or steps they are taking,” a representative for Griffith said.
More than a dozen people attended the press conference on Thursday to discuss the reopening of schools in the fall. Griffith only removed his mask briefly while delivering his remarks on the issue.
A representative from Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Biggs’s office noted that the staff has contacted those who attended the press conference to notify them about Griffith’s test results.
Several members of the House and Senate have tested positive for the coronavirus and fully recovered since the outbreak first began, including Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Kelly.
