Second senator tests positive for coronavirus

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said on Thursday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the second senator known to do so.

“I am strictly following the direction of our medical experts and strongly encourage others to do the same,” he said in a statement.

Cassidy got a coronavirus test on Thursday after being informed on Wednesday night that he had been exposed to an individual with COVID-19. His office said he was following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines including quarantining for 14 days and notifying individuals he has been in contact with.

In late March, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) became the first senator to announce that he had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Several senators have had to quarantine after being exposed to an individual with the disease. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) have said they have coronavirus antibodies, indicating they were exposed to the virus, though they were not tested for it at the time.

Roughly a dozen House members have also tested positive. The chamber implemented new voting procedures to try to prevent members from crowding on the floor and proxy voting to give more members flexibility with traveling to Washington. 

The Senate left Washington last week and isn’t expected to return until Sept. 8. Though most members actually left D.C. around Aug. 7, Cassidy was in the city last week because he presided over the chamber.