Sen. Mike Lee tests positive for COVID-19, vows to return in time to advance Barrett's nomination


Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) has tested positive for COVID-19.
Lee, who is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, in a statement on Friday said he was experiencing "symptoms consistent with longtime allergies" on Thursday morning, and a test for COVID-19 came back positive. The news came after President Trump announced that he and first lady Melania Trump both tested positive for COVID-19; Trump's adviser Hope Hicks, as well as Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel, also tested positive
"On advice of the Senate attending physician, I will remain isolated for the next 10 days," Lee said.
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.
The Utah senator, however, said he'll be "back to work in time to join my Judiciary Committee colleagues" in advancing President Trump's nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court. Lee met in person with Barrett on Tuesday; on Friday, Barrett tested negative for COVID-19. Lee was also in attendance for Trump's Saturday White House event announcing Barrett's nomination and was seen not wearing a mask. Lee said he previously tested negative for COVID-19 when visiting the White House.
Barrett's Supreme Court confirmation process is expected to proceed as scheduled, Axios reported. According to Bloomberg's Laura Litvan, "all members of the Senate Judiciary Committee held a Thursday meeting alongside Mike Lee."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
July 5 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include an extrajudicial detainment camp, 'alligator Alcatraz', and tax cuts for billionaires.
-
5 explosively funny cartoons about the 4th of July
Cartoons Artists take on liberty and justice for all, a terrifying firework, and more
-
Jeff in Venice: a "triumph of tackiness"?
In the Spotlight Locals protest as Bezos uses the city as a 'private amusement park' for his wedding celebrations
-
Kennedy's vaccine panel signals skepticism, change
Speed Read RFK Jr.'s new vaccine advisory board intends to make changes to the decades-old US immunization system
-
Kennedy ousts entire CDC vaccine advisory panel
speed read Health Secretary RFK Jr. is a longtime anti-vaccine activist who has criticized the panel of experts
-
RFK Jr. scraps Covid shots for pregnant women, kids
Speed Read The Health Secretary announced a policy change without informing CDC officials
-
New FDA chiefs limit Covid-19 shots to elderly, sick
speed read The FDA set stricter approval standards for booster shots
-
US overdose deaths plunged 27% last year
speed read Drug overdose still 'remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44,' said the CDC
-
Trump seeks to cut drug prices via executive order
speed read The president's order tells pharmaceutical companies to lower prescription drug prices, but it will likely be thrown out by the courts
-
RFK Jr. visits Texas as 2nd child dies from measles
Speed Read An outbreak of the vaccine-preventable disease continues to grow following a decade of no recorded US measles deaths
-
Shingles vaccine cuts dementia risk, study finds
Speed Read Getting vaccinated appears to significantly reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia