Missouri House Democrat becomes latest to test positive for COVID-19

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) has become the latest congressional lawmaker to test positive for COVID-19 in a breakthrough case. 

“This afternoon, I tested positive for COVID-19. While I am experiencing very minor cold-like symptoms, because I am vaccinated and boosted, I am confident that I will be protected from severe illness,” Cleaver said in a statement on Wednesday.

Cleaver also said in his statement he will isolate himself from others and continue to work remotely until he is experiencing no symptoms and has completed his quarantine. 

“As always, I am thankful for the all of the frontline health care heroes who have worked tirelessly over the past two years to keep the American people safe and healthy during this global pandemic. I encourage every American to get vaccinated and boosted against this deadly virus. It could save your life,” Cleaver said. 

Cleaver’s announcement comes as a number of other lawmakers, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Jim Cooper (R-Tenn.), Sean Casten (D-Ill.), and Young Kim (R-Calif.), announced that they have tested positive for the coronavirus in the past month.

Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.) also announced on Wednesday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus. 

This comes as the U.S. is currently dealing with a winter surge of COVID-19 infections driven by the highly contagious omicron variant.