Sen. Dick Durbin Tests Positive For COVID-19

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin tested positive for the COVID-19 virus Thursday and has begun to quarantine, the No. 2 Senate Democrat announced.

"Thankfully, I am fully vaccinated and double boosted and only experiencing minor symptoms," Durbin said in a statement.

"Consistent with CDC guidelines, I will quarantine and follow advice from my doctor while I continue to work remotely," he said.

The disclosure of the Senate majority whip's diagnosis comes less than 10 days after Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced he had tested positive for the virus after returning from trips to Washington, D.C., Maine and Florida.

And Durbin's positive test comes a week after President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 and a day after Biden ended a period of isolation in response to a negative test result.

Earlier this week, Sen. Joe Manchin, the West Virginia Democrat, said he tested positive for COVID-19. Last week, Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) and Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) also tested positive.

Senate Democrats hope to vote before the August recess on a proposed package of new legislation, including changes to prescription drug pricing, tax and climate change policies.

On Wednesday, Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced they had struck a deal on the budget reconciliation proposal.

Passage will require votes from all 50 Democratic senators, who are not permitted to vote remotely if they remain in isolation.