A Minnesota state senator who recently contracted COVID-19 died Friday of complications from the disease.
First-term Republican Senator Jerry Relph tested positive for the virus after being in close contact with an infected colleague, the Star Tribune reported.
Relph started quarantining on November 10.
The 76-year-old Vietnam War veteran, who recently lost re-election, was one of many GOP state senators who contracted the coronavirus after attending a party following the November election, MPR News said.
Around the same time, Relph went to the emergency room twice after experiencing COVID symptoms, but was not hospitalized, the outlet reported.
Senator Jerry Relph was a true friend and colleague that so many loved. For four years he rolled up his sleeves and tackled difficult issues for our state. Senator Relph will always be remembered as a dedicated public servant, ”Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka tweeted.