Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Covid Catches Up To Vice President
Vice President Kamala Harris tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, her office announced, making her the highest-ranking member of the Biden administration to announce being infected. Harris has no symptoms and is working from her home, according to her press secretary. The former California senator and attorney general returned to Washington late Monday after spending last week in Los Angeles and has not been in contact with President Biden or first lady Jill Biden, her office said. (Kopan, 4/26)
Neither President Joe Biden nor first lady Jill Biden was considered a 鈥渃lose contact鈥 of Harris in recent days, said the vice president鈥檚 press secretary, Kirsten Allen. Harris had been scheduled to attend Biden鈥檚 Tuesday morning Presidential Daily Brief but was not present, the White House said. She had returned Monday from a weeklong trip to the West Coast. The last time she saw Biden was the previous Monday, April 18.鈥淚 have no symptoms, and I will continue to isolate and follow CDC guidelines,鈥 Harris tweeted. 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful to be both vaccinated and boosted.鈥 (Miller, 4/26)
Vice President Harris has been prescribed and has taken Paxlovid, an antiviral pill used to treat COVID-19. Harris press secretary Kirsten Allen tweeted the announcement about the vice president鈥檚 treatment on Tuesday. It came just hours after it was announced that Harris, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, tested positive for COVID-19. (Beals, 4/26)
In related news about covid in Congress 鈥
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden tested positive Tuesday for COVID-19, his office said, as the virus continues to circulate among lawmakers and policymakers in the nation鈥檚 capitol. The Oregon Democrat tested positive during a routine screening and is experiencing mild symptoms, his office said in a statement. (4/26)
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said he tested positive for the coronavirus Tuesday after experiencing mild symptoms overnight.鈥 We鈥檝e done the contact tracing and let people know,鈥 the Democrat said in a Twitter post. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a bummer, but I鈥檓 sure if I wasn鈥檛 fully vaccinated I would be feeling a lot worse. So remember to get your booster!鈥 (4/26)
U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross said she tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. In a tweet, the first-term Democrat from Raleigh representing the 2nd Congressional District said she鈥檚 experiencing mild symptoms. She said she will quarantine and avoid traveling, in keeping with guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (4/26)