Nebraska Republican tests positive for COVID-19 in latest congressional breakthrough case | TheHill – The Hill

Rep. Jeff FortenberryJeffrey (Jeff) Lane FortenberryNebraska Republican tests positive for COVID-19 in latest congressional breakthrough case GOP rep facing charges of lying to FBI announces reelection bid Judge rejects Rep. Jeff Fortenberry's bid to dismiss charges MORE (R-Neb.) tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, becoming the latest congressional lawmaker to announce a breakthrough case.

The congressman said he is experiencing a moderate coronavirus case and will as a result vote by proxy this week.

Though I have been vaccinated and took every precaution to avoid infection, I have contracted a moderate case of COVID-19, Fortenberrywrote in a statement. Per House protocol, I will be recuperating and working from home, and will vote by proxy. As always, my excellent team is ready and available to serve the needs of all Nebraskans.

Congressional lawmakers have reported at least 50 breakthrough cases of COVID-19 since last summer, more than half ofthem contracted since mid-December.

Rep. David TroneDavid John TroneNebraska Republican tests positive for COVID-19 in latest congressional breakthrough case The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Voting rights week for Democrats (again) Maryland Democrat announces positive COVID-19 test MORE (D-Md.) announced a positive test on Saturday, and Diana DeGetteDiana Louise DeGetteNebraska Republican tests positive for COVID-19 in latest congressional breakthrough case The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Voting rights week for Democrats (again) Maryland Democrat announces positive COVID-19 test MORE (D-Colo.) revealed that she came down with the virus on Monday.

Capitol physician Brian Monahan revealed earlier this month that among members, the seven-day average positivity rate had risen from less than 1 percent to greater than 13 percent.

The Centers for Disease Control and Preventionsays on its website that while COVID-19 breakthrough cases are expected, fully vaccinated individuals who test positive for the virus are less likely to develop severe illness compared to those who have not received the jab.

Fortenberrys positive case comes as the U.S. is currently seeing a spike in infections nationwide, driven largely by the highly transmissible omicron variant. Deaths, however, have remained at rates lower than previous waves of the pandemic.

Early data suggests that the infection from the omicron variant may be less severe than other strains of the virus.

Fortenberry made headlines earlier this month when a federal judge denied his bid to dismiss charges he is facing for allegedly lying to authorities about illicit campaign contributions. The congressman was indicted in October after being accused of hiding information and making false statements to authorities regarding illegal campaign contributions passed into the U.S. from Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury.

Authorities allege that a California group passed $30,000 from Chagoury to Fortenberrys 2016 campaign.

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Nebraska Republican tests positive for COVID-19 in latest congressional breakthrough case | TheHill - The Hill