Another rep who traveled to Ukraine tests positive for COVID-19

Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.)
Greg Nash

Another House lawmaker who traveled to Ukraine last month in a bipartisan congressional delegation has tested positive for COVID-19.

Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) announced on Wednesday she tested positive for a COVID-19 breakthrough case. She said she is experiencing mild symptoms and will isolate and work remotely.

“Today, I tested positive for COVID-19. I have been testing daily – and tested negative as recently as 6pm last night – but tested positive on an antigen test this morning,” Jacobs said in a statement.

“Thankfully, I am fully vaccinated and boosted and am only experiencing mild symptoms. I will be isolating and working remotely in accordance with public health guidance. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated, get boosted, test regularly, and stay safe,” she added.

Jacobs and eight other lawmakers traveled to Ukraine and Belgium last month to meet with Ukrainian partners and NATO and European Union allies, according to a tweet from Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas), one of the lawmakers who took the trip.

Allred announced on Sunday that he had tested positive for a COVID-19 breakthrough case after returning from his travels.

The bipartisan congressional delegation occurred amid elevated tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

Moscow has amassed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border, stoking fear among the U.S. and its allies that an incursion against Kyiv may occur.

Russia, however, has denied having any plans to invade.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that while COVID-19 breakthrough cases are expected, infections in fully vaccinated individuals are less likely to cause serious illness compared to people who have not received the jab.

Coronavirus cases have spiked globally in recent weeks as the highly transmissible omicron variant continues to spread.

A number of congressional lawmakers have tested positive for the virus this year, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.).

Updated at 5:23 p.m.

Tags Colin Allred John Hoeven Steny Hoyer

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