At least four House Democrats have tested positive for COVID-19 after attending what is shaping up to have been a superspreader caucus retreat last week in Philadelphia.
Reps. Madeleine Dean, Zoe Lofgren, Kim Schrier, Rosa DeLauro, each fully vaccinated against the virus, announced positive diagnoses and have indicated symptoms are mild.
BARACK OBAMA TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
“This morning I tested positive for COVID. My symptoms are mild — similar to a seasonal cold — which I am thankful for and attribute to being three-times vaccinated,” Dean tweeted Monday. “If you can — please protect yourself from this virus by getting vaccinated, even as we come out of this pandemic.”
About half of the House Democrat caucus attended the retreat, which took place between March 9-11. House Democrats hold a retreat every year to map out the party’s messaging and political strategies. The event was initially slated to take place in February but was postponed due to the surge of the omicron variant across the United States.
The infected Democrats are expected to work remotely and isolate for a week in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A House Administration Committee hearing scheduled for Wednesday on congressional stock trades will be postponed, as Lofgren is the chairwoman of the committee.
Both President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave remarks at the multiday retreat last Friday. It is unclear if either of them were exposed to the virus, but there have been no reports they tested positive for COVID-19.
Last week’s retreat was mask-optional, per Axios. DeLauro was the first of the pack to announce she tested positive on Saturday. Both Schrier and Lofgren disclosed their positive tests Sunday, and Dean made the revelation Monday.
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Rep. Gerry Connolly and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen also announced they were positive for COVID-19 in the past few days. A representative for Connolly said he was not at the retreat, according to Axios. Shaheen’s office told the Washington Examiner that she did not attend the retreat.
COVID-19 cases have dwindled markedly in the United States since the omicron peak in January. The U.S. reported 5,736 cases Sunday — among the lowest case count since the summer of 2021, according to Our World In Data.
