LINDSEY Graham revealed on Monday that he has Covid despite being fully vaccinated, and after he was spotted in Capitol buildings this morning.
The senator said he is thankful for being vaccinated as he is experiencing only “mild symptoms” and it “could be far worse.”
It is unclear how Graham caught the virus but he said that he was tested this morning after experiencing symptoms since Saturday night.
“I was just informed by the House physician I have tested positive for Covid-19 even after being vaccinated,” he said in a tweet on Monday afternoon.
“I started having flu-like symptoms Saturday night and went to the doctor this morning.
“I feel like I have a sinus infection and at present time I have mild symptoms,” the South Carolina lawmaker added.
“I will be quarantining for ten days. I am very glad I was vaccinated because without vaccination I am certain I would not feel as well as I do now.
“My symptoms would be far worse.”
GRAHAM SUFFERS BREAKTHROUGH CASE
While breakthrough cases of Covid in fully vaccinated people are rare, the Centers for Disease Control has warned that they can still happen.
Graham’s positive test comes after an aide for Nancy Pelosi also contracted the virus while vaccinated, as did a group of Texas Democratic lawmakers who had traveled to DC to avoid pushing through a voting rights bill in their home state.
In breakthrough cases, the CDC has said that when the person gets sick, they are far less likely to be hospitalized or die from the virus.
A White House reporter said that Graham was seen in the Senate building on Monday morning and was wearing a mask.
Unlike the House, the Senate has not reinstated a mask mandate following the updated CDC guidance that even fully vaccinated people should be wearing face coverings indoors.
The decision by Speaker Nancy Pelosi had been protested by House Republicans.
GRAHAM PUSHES COVID VACCINE
Graham’s battle with Covid also comes after he began to dub Covid jabs the “Trump vaccine” in an effort to get more conservatives vaccinated.
“We need to up our game,” he has said.
“This thing is pretty bad.”
The senator received his own shot in December, tweeting a picture to urge others to do the same.
Trump has faced calls to encourage his supporters to take the shot as vaccination rates lag, especially in Republican states.
Graham has denied that there is any kind of coordinated effort between conservative lawmakers to push the vaccine.
Alabama Republican Gov Kay Ivey is among those who have spoken out.
“Folks are supposed to have common sense. But it’s time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks, not the regular folks,” she said last month.
“It’s the unvaccinated folks that are letting us down.”
Missouri’s Mike Parson, West Virginia’s Jim Justice, and Florida’s Ron DeSantis are among the other Republican governors pushing their residents to get vaccinated.
Florida and Louisiana are leading the way in new Covid cases.
According to the CDC, only 58.1 percent of Americans aged 12 or older are fully vaccinated.
Closer to 70 percent is needed for herd immunity.
