The Delta variant is in the House, and also the White House, jolting political Washington
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) said Monday that he tested positive for COVID-19, despite being fully vaccinated, and is experiencing "very mild flu-like symptoms." His diagnosis ends nearly six months of no new infections among members of Congress. On Tuesday, a senior communications aide for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), also fully vaccinated, tested positive — one of "several" staff members infected with COVID-19, according to Dr. Brian Monahan, the Capitol's attending physician. He said the Delta variant has been detected in the Capitol.
The Pelosi staffer had been working with a delegation of about 60 Texas Democrats in Washington to thwart passage of a restrictive voting bill. Six of the Texas lawmakers have tested positive, with no or mild symptoms. The Texas delegation said it is fully vaccinated.
The White House also said Tuesday that a fully vaccinated staffer had tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday and is awaiting additional tests off-site. "We know there will be breakthrough cases, but as this incident shows, cases in vaccinated individuals are typically mild," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, adding that the staffer had no close contact with President Biden or other White House principals or staff.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Future developments in the coronavirus Delta variant local threat may require the resumption of mask wear for all as now seen in several counties in the United States," Monahan wrote in new guidance. He had eased the mask mandate in mid-June.
"As COVID infections have crept back onto the Hill, they've shattered the sense of calm that had just begun to settle across the complex after the deadly pandemic and insurrection," Politico reports. "For many Democrats in the House, there's a sense of acute frustration at GOP lawmakers who have refused vaccines but also go mask-less in public areas. At least one Republican, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, has received his first dose of the vaccine in the last several days, citing the Delta variant. But dozens of House Republicans have told reporters they have refused to get vaccinated."
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) postponed an August trip to Israel. "We were going to Israel, leading all the freshmen and it just got canceled because of the Delta variant," Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said Tuesday, adding that his big question now is "does this Delta pose a risk to even those who got vaccinated?"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Chechnya in jeopardy: what would death of Ramzan Kadyrov mean for Putin?
Today's Big Question Strongman leader is 'terminally ill', stoking fears of armed conflict in the North Caucasus
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
Summer Lee, the Pennsylvania 'squad' member who beat back a primary challenge
In the Spotlight Lee is the first Black woman ever elected to Congress from the Keystone State
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
6 fantastic places for solo travel
The Week Recommends Go your own way
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Texas dairy worker gets bird flu from infected cow
Speed Read The virus has been spreading among cattle in Texas, Kansas, Michigan and New Mexico
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Dengue hits the Americas hard and early
Speed Read Puerto Rico has declared an epidemic as dengue cases surge
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Covid four years on: have we got over the pandemic?
Today's Big Question Brits suffering from both lockdown nostalgia and collective trauma that refuses to go away
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
US bans final type of asbestos
Speed Read Exposure to asbestos causes about 40,000 deaths in the U.S. each year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The hollow classroom
Opinion Remote school let kids down. It will take much more than extra tutoring for kids to recover.
By Mark Gimein Published
-
Excess screen time is making children only see what is in front of them
Under the radar The future is looking blurry. And very nearsighted.
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Covid-19: what to know about UK's new Juno and Pirola variants
in depth Rapidly spreading new JN.1 strain is 'yet another reminder that the pandemic is far from over'
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Long-term respiratory illness is here to stay
The Explainer Covid is not the only disease with a long version
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published