Sen. Rick Scott tests positive for COVID-19, says he has ‘very mild symptoms’

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., has tested positive for COVID-19, he announced Friday morning.

Scott’s office said he has been quarantining at his home in Naples since he came in contact with someone last Friday who had subsequently tested positive.

“After several negative tests, I learned I was positive this morning,” Scott, 67, said in a statement. “I am feeling good and experiencing very mild symptoms. I will be working from home in Naples until it is safe for me to return to Washington, D.C.”

Scott is the second senator, along with Iowa’s Chuck Grassley, and at least the eighth member of Congress to announce a positive test this week.

“I want to remind everyone to be careful and do the right things to protect yourselves and others,” Scott added in his statement. “Wear a mask. Social distance. Quarantine if you come in contact with someone positive like I did. As we approach Thanksgiving, we know this holiday will be different this year. But, listen to public health officials and follow their guidance. We will beat this together, but we all have to be responsible. I want to thank all the incredible health care workers who are working around the clock to care for patients and I pray that by next Thanksgiving, COVID-19 will be a thing of the past.”

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Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., speaks during a campaign rally for Republican candidates for U.S. Senate Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Sen. David Perdue on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, in Cumming, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Scott’s announcement came three days after Grassley, the longest-serving Republican senator and third in the line of presidential succession, also said he has tested positive. Grassley, 87, was in the Senate on Monday but is now quarantining in his Virginia home.

The increasing number of cases among members of Congress has raised questions about the safety of the Capitol complex as cases have spiked in almost every state and lawmakers are flying back and forth weekly.

House members could be regularly tested in the Capitol starting this week, but there is still no testing protocol for senators.

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