Two Members Of Congress Test Positive For Covid-19 : NPR

Updated 8:56 p.m. ET

Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart and Ben McAdams each said Wednesday evening that they have tested positive for Covid-19. They are the first two members of Congress to announce positive tests.

They both said they experienced symptoms and have been self-isolating.

Diaz-Balart, 58, voted on the House floor as recently as early Saturday morning, when lawmakers passed a coronavirus relief package.

Diaz-Balart, a Republican who represents Florida’s 25th Congressional District, which includes Miami-Dade County, said in a statement that on Saturday evening he developed symptoms, including a fever and a headache.

He had already been in self-quarantine in Washington, D.C., something he said he started “in an abundance of caution” after his vote on the coronavirus relief package.

He said he had not returned to South Florida because his wife, Tia, has a preexisting condition that makes her at high-risk of contracting the respiratory disease.

On Wednesday, Diaz-Balart was notified that he has a confirmed case of the virus that is quickly spreading across the United States.

Diaz-Balart is now among more than 7,700 coronavirus cases in the country.

“I want everyone to know that I am feeling much better. However, it is important that everyone take this extremely seriously and follow CDC guidelines in order to avoid getting sick and mitigate the spread of this virus,” Diaz-Balart said in a statement.

“We must continue to work together to emerge stronger as a country during these trying times,” he said.

McAdams said he developed “mild, cold-like symptoms” on Saturday evening, which then worsened into a fever, cough and labored breathing. He says he “immediately isolated” in his home.