Republic of South Carolina Joe Wilson
Addison (Joe) Graves WilsonBiden faces pressure on the Iran deal’s deadline. One of Congress’ top Republican advisers resigns and dismisses Republican lawmakers who opposed Biden’s victory. (R) on Wednesday announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 just hours after speaking at the House floor about the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed and the start of vaccine distribution across the country.
“Earlier this evening I heard that my test was positive for COVID-19,” Wilson said in a statement Wednesday. “I will take all necessary precautions, as instructed by the home doctor, including quarantine during the Christmas holiday.”
“Fortunately I feel good and I have no symptoms,” added the Republican Congressman. “It is very important that we all do our part to help prevent the spread of this virus.”
Previous Wednesday, Wilson appeared on the floor of the Chamber to commend the development of a coronavirus vaccine, citing a Washington Times Editorial saying, “The life-saving COVID-19 vaccine that he [President Trump
Donald TrumpNRCC finance chair: Republicans who voted for Trump impeachment will not be penalized Blinken, UN head share first call after US rejoins Climate Accords, WHO GOP senators met with Trump’s impeachment team to talk strategy MORE] promised to deliver arrived in record time. Hallelujah.”
“’Promises made, promises kept’, Mr Trump likes to say. This is the entrepreneurial spirit that makes America special. Just in time for Christmas, the fruits of ‘Operation Warp Speed’ are beginning to bring joy to the world, ”continues the editorial.
Wilson’s comments came after health professionals began receiving the coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech on Monday, following emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week.
Wilson, 73, is the latest in a series of lawmakers on both sides to test positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks.
Reps. Rick Allen
Richard (Rick) Wayne AllenCapitol Police investigate report Maryland Republican Party representative Andy Harris tried to put a gun on the House, Georgia’s Chief of Elections refutes electoral claims in a letter to Congress READ: Republicans who voted to contest election results MOST (R-Ga.) E Susie Lee
Suzanne (Susie) Kelley LeeMORE (D-Nev.) It announced separately last month that it had contracted the virus. Days before, two other members of the House, Reps. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) And Joe Courtney
Joseph (Joe) D. CourtneySouth Carolina Republican tests positive for coronavirus hours after speaking at the House. Representative Rick Allen tests positive for COVID-19 Connecticut Democrat diagnosed with COVID-19 MORE (D-Conn.), Both announced that tested positive.
In total, at least 11 senators and 36 House members have tested positive for COVID-19 or its antibodies since the start of the pandemic, according to CNN.
While Pfizer said it manufactured enough of the vaccine to administer at least 25 million doses to the United States before the end of the year. Health professionals and populations at greatest risk are being prioritized in the initial distribution of the vaccine. Experts predict it will not be widely available to the general public until spring or summer 2021.
The candidate vaccine developed by Moderna is also being considered for FDA approval for emergency use this week.
As of Wednesday, the US had about 16.9 million total cases of COVID-19, with more than 307,000 deaths due to the virus, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.