Congressman Mike Rogers, R-Alabama, has tested positive for the coronavirus, the congressman said Thursday.
“This morning I tested positive for COVID-19. I immediately consulted with the Office of the Attending Physician and am currently self-isolating. I am experiencing mild symptoms but otherwise I am in good spirits and looking forward to getting back to work soon,” Rogers said in a tweet Thursday.
Rogers is the fourth House member to have tested positive this week. Representatives Joe Wilson, R-South Carolina; Barry Loudermilk, R-Georgia; and Ken Calvert, R-California, have all said this week they’ve tested positive.
Calvert said he tested positive last month but has returned to Washington, according to The Hill.
Two former members of the Alabama House died on Monday after contracting COVID-19. Former State Rep. Richard Laird died Monday at the Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton, Georgia, according to The Randolph Leader. Former Rep. Jack Page of Gadsden died Monday as well, at a local hospital, The Gadsden Times reported.
Numerous Alabama politicians, largely Republicans, have tested positive for the virus — some having severe cases. Republican Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth in October announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus. He had only mild symptoms. State Sen. Jim McClendon, R-Springville, survived a serious bout of COVID-19 and was hospitalized for a time.
Congressman Robert Aderholt, R-Alabama, tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month as well. State Rep. Joe Faust, R-Fairhope, was in the ICU at Thomas Hospital last week after testing positive for COVID-19, WKRG reported.
State Sen. Randy Price, R-Opelika, was twice in an ICU with COVID-19, and Alabama Republican Party chief of staff Harold Sachs died from COVID-19 on Nov. 10. State Sen. Larry Dixon, R-Montgomery, died on Dec. 3 after complications from COVID-19 after being exposed to the disease at a social gathering.
“We messed up. We just let our guard down. Please tell everybody to take this thing seriously and get help as soon as you get the virus,” Dixon said as his last words to the public from his hospital bed, according to AL.com.
