Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.) has tested positive for COVID-19, and will miss President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Correa, 62, tested positive on Jan. 15, nine days after he and other legislators had gathered in Washington for a joint session of Congress to count electoral votes. He didn’t shelter in place with colleagues on Jan. 6 when protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol; his office said he stayed outside to help the U.S. Capitol Police.
The test was routine. It came nearly a month after Correa had received Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.
“In my community, everyone knows someone affected. COVID-19 has hit us hard, and for months, families have struggled while our community attempts to contain the virus. Even in quarantine, I will continue to work for them and ensure my struggling neighbors in Central Orange County have the assistance they need to survive,” Correa said in a statement.
“While this diagnosis will prevent me from attending the much-anticipated inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, I look forward to working with the new administration to unite our country and help the millions of people devastated by the pandemic. Americans need help, and that help is finally on the way,” he said.
Dozens of members of Congress have tested positive for COVID-19 over the past year; all have recovered or are currently in quarantine.
Rep.-elect Luke Letlow (R-La.), who tested positive, died from a heart attack that a doctor said was likely related to the disease.
Correa is the fifth House member to test positive since Jan. 6. The others were Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), and Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.).
