New people test positive for COVID-19 every single day. However, when a United States politician tests positive, it usually makes headlines all over the world!
It’s not hard to see why. As lawmakers, these politicians are in the best position to provide guidance on how to avoid getting COVID-19. When such a politician tests positive, it can rock voters’ faith about whether these leaders are actually able to keep us safe or not.
It doesn’t help when politicians on both sides of the aisle are encouraging people to return to work and return to their old lifestyles in order to boost the economy. Sure, the politicians may say it’s safe out there, but it’s tough to believe when they keep catching the virus!
Who all has been testing positive for COVID-19? Here is our roundup of the latest politicians affected by the virus.
Kamala Harris
Vice President Kamala Harris confirmed that she tested positive for COVID-19 on April 26, 2022. She reported no symptoms and announced that she would be self-isolating. However, she also took medication in the form of the Pfizer pill Paxlovid which is usually used to treat the more intense symptoms of COVID.
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Nancy Pelosi
The second highest-profile politician to get COVID-19 lately is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She tested positive for COVID-19 on April 7, 2022. Of course, that is merely when she tested positive, and she may have been infected before then. Because of that, photos of an unmasked Joe Biden kissing an unmasked Pelosi on the cheek on April 5 raised more than a few eyebrows.
Merrick Garland
Attorney General Merrick Garland tested positive for COVID-19 on April 6, 2022. Earlier that day, Garland appeared at the Justice Department in Washington to give a news conference. He was unmasked during the conference and very close to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and FBI Director Christopher Wray, both of whom were also without masks.
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Gina Raimondo
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo confirmed that she had COVID-19 on April 6. The day before, she was a speaker at the North Americas Building Trades Unions Legislative Conference at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC. This event brings in visitors from around the world.
Joaquin Castro
Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX) confirmed that he tested positive for COVID-19 on April 5. Previously, he appeared at the high-profile The Latinx House Pre-Oscars Celebration in West Hollywood on March 24, 2022. There is no way of knowing exactly when he first contracted the virus.
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Susan Collins
Senator Susan Collins of Maine announced she tested positive for COVID-19 soon after pledging her support for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson on April 7, 2022. While she reported only mild symptoms, some were concerned about her colleagues that she may have unknowingly affected.
Raphael Warnock
Senator Raphel Warnock of Georgia is in the same boat as Susan Collins. He was also in attendance for the April 7 call of votes to confirm Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. Later, he reported that he tested positive for COVID-19.
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Peter DeFazio
Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR) confirmed that he tested positive for COVID-19 on April 7, 2022. The same thing happened to his fellow Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer. DeFazio reported that his symptoms were mild due to his previous vaccination, and Blumenauer pledged to both follow CDC guidelines on the matter and isolate himself to keep others safe.
Adam Schiff
Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) confirmed that he tested positive for COVID-19 via social media on April 5, 2022. He took the opportunity to remind everyone that he has been both vaccinated and boosted and that others should do the same to both reduce the odds of getting infected and reduce the severity of potential infection.
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William Burns
Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns confirmed that he tested positive for COVID-19 on March 31, 2022. On March 8, a maskless Burns testified during a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing focusing on global threats. He was flanked by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, neither of whom were wearing masks.
Other important figures
In addition to politicians contracting COVID-19, many who are in the orbit of these politicians have also tested positive lately. This increases the risk that more politicians will get infected and, in some cases, re-infected.
For example, White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that she tested positive for COVID-19 on March 27, 2022. This was shortly after she returned from a trip to Europe alongside President Joe Biden.
Biden’s chief spokesperson, Jen Psaki, confirmed on March 22, 2022, that she tested positive for COVID-19. She was quick to clarify that Biden tested himself and the results came back negative after she revealed she was infected.
Finally, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff tested positive for COVID-19. This was revealed by the White House on March 15, 2022. On March 11, a maskless Emhoff met with female entrepreneurs at the Mi Casa Resource Center in Denver. His wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, then tested negative, but she still cut her own trip short to play it safe. Still, she later tested positive for the virus.
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