Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tests positive for COVID-19
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has tested positive for COVID-19, her office said in a statement on Sunday.
"She is experiencing symptoms and recovering at home," the statement said. "The Congresswoman received her booster this fall and encourages everyone to get their booster and follow CDC guidelines."
The CDC recommends that Americans who test positive for COVID-19 and develop symptoms isolate for at least five full days. After those five days, the CDC says that people can stop isolating if they are "fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved."
The CDC says that "If an individual has access to a test and wants to test, the best approach is to use an antigen test towards the end of the 5-day isolation period. Collect the test sample only if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved."
COVID-19 cases continue to surge across the country, with an average of nearly 700,000 new cases reported per day, according to the CDC.
Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb suggested Sunday on "Face the Nation" that the Omicron surge may have already peaked in areas like New York City — where Ocasio-Cortez lives — Washington, D.C., Maryland and possibly Florida.
There have been at least 44 breakthrough cases of COVID-19 among members of the House and Senate, with at least two dozen of those occurring since the holiday recess. Representatives John Katko, Ben Cline and Nancy Mace on Monday all announced they had tested positive.
According to govtracker.us, more than 100 members have contracted COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Capitol physician Brian Monahan said in a memo to lawmakers on January 3 that the positivity rate among lawmakers had jumped from 1% to 13%. Monahan recommended telework when possible.
"Congressional offices, Committees, and Agencies should immediately review their operations to adopt a maximal telework posture to reduce in-person meetings and in-office activities to the maximum extent possible," Monahan said in the memo. "Electronic means to facilitate all-virtual or hybrid- type meetings or hearings should be emphasized. Employing agencies should review their efforts to promote all required measures to sustain workplace and employee health and safety. Capitol food vendors and dining facilities will emphasize carry-out, delivery, grab-and-go type food options to reduce assemblies of people dining together in inside spaces (a high-risk viral spread activity). Any group activity indoors should promote strict mask-wear compliance."
The House has not held any floor votes since December 14, and was scheduled to return from the holiday recess on Monday.
Zak Hudak, Nikole Killion and Jacob Rosen contributed to this report.
