Rep. Rick Allen tests positive for COVID-19

Rep. Rick Allen (R-Ga.) on Tuesday became the latest member of Congress to test positive for COVID-19 amid a nationwide spike in cases as well as among lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Allen is at least the 11th lawmaker in the last 12 days alone to have tested positive for the virus. Like several other colleagues who received test results indicating they had COVID-19 in recent days, Allen was in Washington, D.C., last week and cast numerous votes on the House floor.

The Georgia Republican said in a statement that he did not have any symptoms and would continue to work remotely while quarantining.

“I have been undergoing regular COVID-19 testing and learned today that I have tested positive for COVID-19. I do not have any symptoms and will continue to work on behalf of the 12th District from home as I quarantine,” Allen said.

Announcements of new diagnoses among members of Congress have been coming near-daily over the past two weeks, while cases are on the rise nationally.

Two other House members, Reps. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) and Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), both announced Sunday that they also tested positive. Those twin announcements came after six other House members tested positive in recent days: Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.), Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) and Don Young (R-Alaska).

Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) received a positive test result on Friday, the day she campaigned with Vice President Pence, though two subsequent COVID-19 tests came back negative and her campaign said Monday that she would return to the campaign trail ahead of the Jan. 5 runoff election.

Two other lawmakers, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.), tested positive last week. Grassley tweeted on Monday that he was “feeling good” and planned to return to the Senate when it comes back into session next week following its Thanksgiving holiday recess.

The Democratic-led House has implemented a proxy voting system for lawmakers who cannot vote in person during the pandemic and the chamber been requiring masks on the floor since late July.

But some lawmakers, particularly House Republicans, still express gripes about having to wear masks or fail to wear them correctly so that they fully cover the nose and mouth.

Members of both parties last week also repeatedly gathered in groups on or near the House floor, despite a reminder from Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Since March, at least 25 House members and seven senators have tested positive for COVID-19. At least two other House members had presumed cases but were not confirmed at the time.