ToplineRep. Sharice Davids (D-Kans.) Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kans.) stated Friday that she was positive for coronavirus. She is now the fourth member to be infected after she had been fully vaccinated. However, she believes her condition could have been much worse without the shot.Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kans.) As President Biden signs H.R. 49, which establishes... [+] The National Pulse Memorial. The ceremony was attended by survivors of the Pulse nightclub shooting as well as the families of the victims. Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesThe Key FactsDavids stated in a statement, that she was tested positive for coronavirus on Friday morning. She is currently experiencing mild symptoms and plans to self-isolate. Davids stated that she is grateful for the vaccine and its protection, arguing that things could be worse if she had not been vaccinated. This claim has been supported by many studies. The CDC has found that breakthrough casescoronavirus infection among vaccinated individuals is rare. A new study shows that fully vaccinated persons are half as likely as those who have not been vaccinated to contract the deadly delta variant. David's diagnosis is just one day after Rep. Ralph Norman (R.S.C.), who has been vaccinated, but opposed the Houses mask mandate announced his positive test. Senator Lindsey Graham (R.S.C.), who tested positive earlier in the week, stated that his symptoms would be much worse without the vaccine. Later, he revealed that he had urged former President Donald Trump be more aggressive in advocating the shots. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., had his breakthrough case last week urging Americans to be vigilant about the virus. He has since recovered and is back to in-person work.Important BackgroundAfter several unvaccinated Capitol staffers and Texas Democratic legislators tested positive, Dr. Brian P. Monahan imposed a mask mandate on the House. Monahan should also mandate semi-weekly vaccines, as some House Democrats are concerned about unique aspects of Congress such as the travel time of lawmakers to and from their districts.TangentClay Higgins, a Florida Republican, stated in a late-January Facebook post that his son, wife and daughter tested positive for coronavirus. He did not specify if he was vaccinated. Higgins stated that he and his wife had been infected with the virus in January 2020 before the rest of the world knew. However, he said this episode is much more difficult.What to WatchNancy Pelosi, House Speaker, indicated Friday that a mandate to test and administer vaccines to lawmakers and staff could be in the works if the Food and Drug Administration approves the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine. She said that she believes this will make a significant difference in terms of the scope of what can be done.
