COVID-19 infection rises in US Congress as Omicron rises by Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Congress is experiencing an unprecedented rise in COVID-19 cases, with a seven-day positive rate at a congressional test site rising to 13% from just 1% in late November, the Capitol doctor said Monday. .

Most Capitol Hill coronavirus infections have occurred among those vaccinated, with Omicron variants accounting for about 61% and Delta variants for 38%, based on a limited sample from Dec. 15, Dr. Brian Monahan told lawmakers and staff in January. 3 letters.

The rise in the number of new COVID-19 cases in the United States has doubled to an average of 418,000 a day in the last seven days, according to Reuters estimates.

Monahan noted that the advanced infections among those vaccinated on Capitol Hill did not lead to hospitalization, serious complications or death, he said, proving the importance of vaccines.

The U.S. government has asked vaccinated Americans to receive boosters and inoculate those without vaccines who are at a much higher risk of receiving and dying a serious case of COVID-19.

About 65% of COVID-19 cases in the capitol were symptomatic, according to the letter. In other cases, people who tested positive showed no symptoms.

The Senate was due to return on Monday after a year-end holiday break, but only met for a short session due to a snowstorm that forced the Capitol test site to close early.

The attending physician did not ask for any changes to the wearing of masks at the Capitol whenever there are others, although he advised members and staff to wear medical-grade masks rather than plain cloths.

He also urged congressional offices, committees and agencies to personally review operations immediately and take a “maximum telework stance” to personally reduce meetings and office activities.