House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on Tuesday announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing mid symptoms. The representative for Maryland’s 5th congressional district is fully vaccinated and boosted.
In a statement released on Tuesday night, Hoyer said that he will work from home and the House will use his proxy vote in the session this week.
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“This afternoon, I tested positive for COVID-19, and I am experiencing mild symptoms. Thankfully, I am fully vaccinated and already received my booster shot,” the Maryland Democrat said.
A bill to bolster US competitiveness with China is expected to be discussed in the House while the Senate will look to reach a deal to fund the government and avert a shutdown by February 18.
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“In line with CDC guidelines and guidance from the Office of the Attending Physician, I will be working from home this week during my isolation period, and in order to protect the safety of other Members, staff, employees, and visitors to the Capitol, I will utilize proxy voting,” the statement further read.
Hoyer said that he will work from home.
“I look forward to returning to the Capitol once my isolation period is over to continue carrying out the important work of leading House Democrats as we govern responsibly For the People,” the 82-year-old said.
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Hoyer is amongst the many lawmakers to have contracted COVID-19 in the past weeks. Other include- Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie, Arizona Democrat Raul Grijalva and New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Senators Mitt Romney, a Utah Republican, and Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat had also tested positive.
“The COVID-19 infection rate at the US Capitol’s testing center had decreased from 13% to 4% in less than a month,” the Office of the Attending Physician said last week, as per CNN reports.
