NEW ORLEANS — U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) has tested positive for the coronavirus and is experiencing some symptoms of COVID-19.
The Republican senator made the announcement Thursday and said he has begun a 14-day quarantine in Louisiana. His spokesperson said the 62-year-old Cassidy is experiencing "mild symptoms that began this morning,"
The spokesperson said Cassidy has contacted his physician and is adhering to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and is notifying those he had recently come into contact with.
Cassidy, a physician, says he was tested after being notified Wednesday night that he'd been exposed to someone infected with the virus. The test came back positive.
“I am strictly following the direction of our medical experts and strongly encourage others to do the same,” said Dr. Cassidy.
Cassidy is a medical doctor and was elected to the Senate in 2014. He is at least the 13th member of Congress, and only the second senator, known to have tested positive for the coronavirus.