Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, said on Sunday that she would be away from the Senate for a while due to a positive COVID-19 test.
Duckworth stated her test results were positive for COVID-19 after having experienced some very minor symptoms. She said she will keep working for the people of Illinois while she is isolated, and she will listen to the advice of the medical professionals on when she may return to the Senate chamber.
Democrat Senators from Illinois, Dick Durbin, and Connecticut, Chris Murphy, both of whom are Democrats, have also tested positive.
According to reports, Duckworth also tested positive for the virus in December.
The Democrats in the Senate will have one less vote to cast on the floor this coming week. The debate on the first round of budget legislation will get underway in the upper house, and then attention will turn to nominations.
In the following weeks, the Senate is anticipated to vote on three spending proposals that have received support from both parties. These laws include the Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration Reauthorization Act, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Reauthorization Act, and the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Reauthorization Act.
Since July, there has been a continual rise in the number of cases, and due to reports of new variations, there is growing worry about the possibility of a reappearance of COVID-19 in the following autumn and winter.
According to The New York Times, no evidence indicates that any of the circulating variations cause more severe illness or successfully circumvent immunity to render vaccinations useless.
According to the Times story, those with compromised immune systems, pregnant women, and older folks may choose to take further precautions, such as wearing masks continuously and avoiding busy indoor spaces.
The efficacy of wearing masks to combat Covid-19 is still an ongoing debate.
