Three fully vaccinated members of the Texas House delegation in Washington, D.C., tested positive for Covid-19, the state's House Democratic Caucus said Saturday.
The first positive test result came Friday night, when a member informed the caucus they had the coronavirus.
"Caucus Members and staff took a rapid test, all of which were negative," the caucus said in a statement.
But two additional fully vaccinated members reported positive test results Saturday morning. One of the members, state Rep. Celia Israel, released a statement on Saturday evening
"Thankfully, I am doing well and hope to get over the infection quickly and with mild symptoms. I’m currently quarantining until I test negative. I urge anyone not yet vaccinated to do so as soon as possible to help stop the spread," she said, thanking her colleagues for well wishes and support. "Most importantly, I hope this instance highlights the sacrifices we’re willing to make for the cause of democracy. I would not change anything to protect the right to vote.”
The names of the other two people have not been released.
The caucus said it will follow current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that state fully vaccinated individuals who are exposed to the virus do not need to take any extra precautions unless they start to show symptoms.
"The House Democratic Caucus is following all CDC guidance and protocols," Chairman Chris Turner said in a statement.
"This is a sober reminder that Covid is still with us, and though vaccinations offer tremendous protection, we still must take necessary precautions. We are in touch with public health experts in Texas to provide additional guidance," he added. "Our caucus will follow all recommendations from public health experts as we continue our work."
Some of the delegation had meetings this week with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; and Vice President Kamala Harris. It's not clear if any of the members who tested positive were in the meetings.
Harris' office released a statement Saturday saying she and her staff, who are vaccinated, were not at risk of exposure because they were not in close contact with those who tested positive, and there was no need for them to be tested or quarantined.
