Rand Paul volunteering at hospital after negative coronavirus test

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) announced Tuesday that he is volunteering at a local hospital after becoming coronavirus-free.

The Kentucky senator, who tested positive for the coronavirus a little more than two weeks ago, posted a photo of himself in a medical uniform with an identification card for TriStar Greenview Regional Hospital in Bowling Green, Ky.

He wrote in a tweet that he had been retested and that results had come back negative. 

“I appreciate all the best wishes I have received,” he tweeted Tuesday. “I have been retested and I am negative.”

“I have started volunteering at a local hospital to assist those in my community who are in need of medical help, including Coronavirus patients,” he added. “Together we will overcome this!”

I appreciate all the best wishes I have received. I have been retested and I am negative. I have started volunteering at a local hospital to assist those in my community who are in need of medical help, including Coronavirus patients. Together we will overcome this! pic.twitter.com/9SeypT7rL6

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) April 7, 2020

Paul, who is also a doctor, was sharply criticized by fellow medical experts and other members of Congress after reportedly using the Senate gym and pool while awaiting earlier coronavirus test results. 

Paul became the first senator to test positive for the virus last month. His office has said the senator left the Capitol “IMMEDIATELY upon learning of his diagnosis” of coronavirus and went into quarantine on March 22. 

The Kentucky senator ended up missing the Senate vote for the massive third stimulus bill last month after speaking out against supplying checks to all Americans. He had said money should be distributed based on unemployment and those out of work because of the virus. 

Some state governments have requested doctors and nurses to come out of retirement to help treat the rapidly growing number of people with coronavirus. 

Kentucky has counted just more than 1,000 positive cases of the virus, with 59 deaths. Nationwide, more than 378,200 people have contracted the virus, with 11,830 deaths and 20,003 recoveries, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.