Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is quarantining after a test for the coronavirus came back positive.
On Sunday, Paul’s office said in a tweet that the senator had been asymptomatic but took the coronavirus test “out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel.”
“Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19. He is feeling fine and is in quarantine. He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of direct contact with any infected person.”
He expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends and will continue to work for the people of Kentucky at this difficult time. Ten days ago, our D.C. office began operating remotely, hence virtually no staff has had contact with Senator Rand Paul.
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 22, 2020
His office said that Paul was “not aware” of any “direct contact” with an individual infected with the coronavirus.
Additionally, Paul’s staff noted that for the past 10 days, the office has been “operating remotely” and “virtually no staff has had contact with Senator Rand Paul.”
Paul is the first senator to test positive for the coronavirus, though two House members revealed last week that they had tested positive for the virus as well.
News that members of the House had tested positive led other lawmakers to announce that they were self-quarantining after coming in contact with those members.
The news or more cases of coronavirus is likely to intensify calls from members of Congress to change congressional rules to allow lawmakers to vote remotely due to concerns of the virus spreading.