North Carolina U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R) announced Friday he has tested positive for COVID-19, just hours after President Donald Trump was hospitalized following being diagnosed with the coronavirus.
The announcement comes the day after he participated in a debate with his opponent in the general election, Cal Cunningham, at the Spectrum News studios in Raleigh.
“I will be following the recommendations of my doctor and will be self-isolating at home for 10 days and notifying those I’ve been in close contact with,” Tillis said in an emailed statement. “Thankfully, I have no symptoms, and I feel well.”
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19 following a test on Thursday. The President was flown Friday evening by Marine One from The White House to Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland for treatment.
Tillis attended a ceremony at the White House last weekend at which Amy Coney Barrett was formally nominated for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, according to CNN.
Three reporters, presidential advisor Hope Hicks, and the president of the University of Notre Dame are among the latest to have tested positive for the coronavirus and also attended the Rose Garden event.
A spokesperson for Tillis’ campaign says they have notified the Cunningham campaign and Spectrum News about the positive tests, and will also contact anyone who may have come in contact with the senator this week.
A Cunningham spokesperson said the Democrat will be tested as soon as possible.
All staffers who were with Tillis this week are being quarantined and tested, the Charlotte campaign headquarters is being closed and all in-person events are called off indefinitely.
U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah and fellow member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, also was at the event and has tested positive, NBC News has reported.
“I encourage all North Carolinians to follow the recommendations of medical experts, including wearing a mask, washing hand and practicing social distancing,” Tillis said.
This is a developing story, stay with OBX Today for updates.
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