Republican Florida Sen. Rick Scott Tests Positive For COVID-19

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) tested positive for COVID-19, he announced in a statement early Friday. He had announced that he was possibly exposed and awaiting test results last weekend.

“After several negative tests, I learned I was positive this morning,” Scott said. “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’s office said the senator came in contact with someone late Nov. 13 who later tested positive for the virus, and that he had not contracted it while he was in Georgia last week helping Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler campaign, as they both face upcoming runoff elections.

In his statement, Scott encouraged Americans to continue to social distance, wear a mask and be mindful of traveling during the holidays.

“I want to remind everyone to be careful and do the right things to protect yourselves and others. Wear a mask. Social distance. Quarantine if you come in contact with someone positive like I did,” he said. “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.”

Scott is the latest senator to contract the virus, following Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) who announced earlier this week he had COVID-19. So far ten senators have either tested positive or been presumed positive since the beginning of the pandemic.

Florida, once a coronavirus hotspot, is still experiencing high numbers of cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the last seven days alone Florida has reported over 49,000 cases — the sixth highest in the U.S. — and 438 deaths, the fourth highest in the U.S.