Rep. Adriano Espaillat tests positive for COVID-19

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Rep. Adriano EspaillatAdriano de Jesus Espaillat Cabral ER Doctor Chosen to Lead Hispanic Caucus Countering China’s Influence in the Caribbean with Second Caribbean Basin Initiative Legislators Call for Help for Small Businesses at All Levels of Government MORE (DN.Y.) announced on Thursday that he tested positive for the coronavirus, making him the seventh lawmaker to contract the virus since last week’s riot in the Capitol.

Espaillat, who falls into a risk category for a serious coronavirus infection at age 66, said he is going to be quarantined at home on the advice of his doctor. He received the second dose of the Pfizer / BioNTech coronavirus vaccine last week, although he acknowledged that it takes time for the shot protection to take effect.

“I received the second dose of the # COVID19 vaccine last week and understand the effects will take time. I get tested regularly, wear my mask and follow recommended guidelines, ”he tweeted.

“I will remotely continue my duties as a representative for New York’s 13th congressional district until my doctor’s approval is given. I encourage all residents to follow public health guidelines for the safety of our # NY13 community. “

He added in a follow-up statement to The Hill that he is currently not experiencing any symptoms. The New York lawmaker said he “was tested regularly, including in the past two days when I traveled from New York to Washington DC,” and that he received his positive result after taking another test Wednesday night.

Espaillat is just the latest in a string of lawmakers to announce coronavirus diagnoses after a crowd stormed the Capitol last week, forcing lawmakers to flee to their offices or other secure locations. Of the seven lawmakers who have since contracted the coronavirus, three were in a secure room during the riots with Republicans who they said refused to wear masks.

As of January 6, representatives Jake LaTurner (R-Kan.), Michelle Steel (R-Calif.), Chuck FleischmannCharles (Chuck) Joseph Fleischmann Growing Number Of Lawmakers Test Positive For COVID-19 After The Capitol Siege READ: The Republicans Who Voted To Challenge Election Results GOP Lawmakers Are Raising Up On Newsmax MORE (R-Tenn.), Bonnie Watson ColemanBonnie Watson Coleman Overnight Health Care: Trump Administrator Makes Changes to Rapid Vaccinations | CDC to Order Negative Tests for International Travelers | More lawmakers test positive after Capitol Democrats siege to impose fines on house-floor maskless lawmakers Growing number of lawmakers test positive for COVID-19 after Capitol siege MORE (DN.J.), Pramila JayapalPramila Jayapal Overnight Health Care: Trump Administrator Makes Changes to Rapid Vaccinations | CDC to Order Negative Tests for International Travelers | More lawmakers test positive after Capitol Democrats siege to impose fines on house-floor maskless lawmakers Growing number of lawmakers test positive for COVID-19 after Capitol siege MORE (D-Wash.) And Brad SchneiderBradley (Brad) Scott Schneider The Hill’s Morning Report – How Many Republicans Will Vote for Trump’s Impeachment? Nighttime Health Care: Trump Administrator Makes Changes to Speed ​​Up Vaccinations | CDC to Order Negative Tests for International Travelers | More Lawmakers Test Positive After Capitol Sieges Democrats To Impose Fines On Maskless Lawmakers On House Floor MORE (D-Ill.) All have announced positive test results. Coleman, Jayapal and Schneider all said they were in a secure room with the maskless lawmakers.

Several Republican lawmakers in the room adamantly refused to wear a mask … even if their colleagues politely asked for it. Today I am now in strict isolation, afraid that I have endangered my wife’s health and angry with the selfishness and arrogance of the anti-masks who put their own disdain and disregard for decency above the health and safety of their colleagues and our staff, ”Schneider said in a statement announcing his diagnosis this week.

The attending physician’s House Office sent a letter to members urging them to keep a close eye on their health after realizing that at least one person trapped with them was infected. There are also concerns that rioters might have spread the virus as they raided the Capitol.

Dozens of lawmakers from both parties have contracted COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and members of both houses received vaccinations last month.

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