Christopher BergWashington, DC – Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) tested positive for Coronavirus on Sunday.
This makes Sen. Paul the first U.S. senator to be diagnosed with the virus, according to NBC News.
Sen. Paul’s Twitter account announced the news Sunday morning.
“Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19. He is feeling fine and is in quarantine. He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person,” the tweet said. “He expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends and will continue to work for the people of Kentucky at this difficult time. Ten days ago, our D.C. office began operating remotely, hence virtually no staff has had contact with Senator Rand Paul.”
Sen. Paul has lung damage from an incident in 2017 when he was attacked by his neighbor.
The neighbor, Rene Boucher, said he was upset with Sen. Paul piling garden debris along the border of their properties.
Boucher rushed Sen. Paul and tackled him while the senator was mowing his lawn.
Sen. Paul sustained five broken ribs in the attack, suffered pnemonia, and had part of his lungs later removed in surgery.
Boucher was sentenced to 30 days in prison and a $10,000 fine. A jury later awarded him to pay Sen. Paul $580,000 in a civil suit.