Over Two Dozen Mississippi Lawmakers Get Infected With COVID-19

26 Mississippi lawmakers have tested positive for COVID-19, according to state health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs.

During a press briefing with Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) on Wednesday, Dobbs confirmed that a recent COVID-19 outbreak at the state’s Capitol building in Jackson led to 36 people catching the virus, 26 of whom are Mississippi lawmakers.

Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann’s office had announced earlier this week that he had tested positive and would be self-quarantining. State House Speaker Philip Gunn (R) also revealed on Sunday that he had become infected with the virus.

“I feel very fortunate that I don’t have very many symptoms,” he said.

Few legislators and public officials have been wearing masks at the Capitol, according to the Clarion Ledger. Neither Hosemann nor Gunn wore masks during a bill signing last week with Reeves, who has since stated that he took a COVID-19 test that came out negative.