Another fully vaccinated congressional staffer has tested positive for COVID, it was revealed on Friday, as concerns grows about the rising number of breakthrough cases inside the government.
The staffer works for Democratic Rep. Kai Kahele of Hawaii.
'Yes, a fully vaccinated member of the Congressman's office tested positive,' Kahele spokesman Michael Ahn said. 'We are in coordination with the Office of the Attending Physician, and our office policies follow all recommendations and guidelines from the CDC and OAP.'
Concern is rising on Capitol Hill after a fully-vaccinated staffer in Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office tested positive for COVID. More staff and lawmakers have been wearing face masks and there have been long lines at COVID testing centers in the Capitol.
'There is a real sense of unease, and a number of offices, even those with fully vaccinated staff, are encouraging work from home and urging folks to consider wearing masks when they're in the office,' a senior congressional aide told BuzzFeed.
More lawmakers and staff are wearing face masks in the Capitol - above Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill wear face masks
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer speaks with an aide
Rep. Joyce Beatty and members of the Congressional Black Caucus hold a press conference
The attending physician of the Capitol sent updated guidance to congressional staffers earlier this week as the Delta variant was detected on Capitol Hill.
The variant has caused more than 80 per cent of new COVID cases in the country and has sent COVID cases soaring 244 percent in the last three weeks.
Officials in some states and major cities have reinstituted face mask policies.
'The Delta variant virus has been detected in Washington, DC and in the Capitol buildings,' Dr. Brian P. Monahan wrote in his memo to staff, which was obtained by DailyMail.com.
He said 'several' aides who have been vaccinated have tested positive for COVID. Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan announced on Monday he had tested positive for COVID despite being vaccinated.
'Several vaccinated Congressional staff members and 1 Member of Congress have acquired infection,' Monahan wrote.
He advised staff to consider wearing face masks as an additional source of protection but noted it is not required by the CDC.
'Vaccinated individuals seeking to further reduce their risk of disease, or further reduce potential risk of transmitting disease to vulnerable household members, may consider additional protective actions such as wearing a well-fitted, medical-grade filtration mask when they are in a crowded or interior location,' he said.
A fully-vaccinated White House staffer also tested positive for COVID it was revealed earlier this week.
After it was disclosed, the White House announced it was changing its COVID-19 disclosure policy.
In future, the White House will announce any positive tests among officials if they come into contact with President Biden, Vice President Harris or their spouses.
It comes after Press Secretary Jen Psaki admitted there had been multiple cases at the White House that had not previously been revealed.
'Because of our commitment to transparency, what we’re going to be providing, moving forward, are updates on any White House official who tests positive for COVID-19 that the White House medical unit deemed as having had close contact with the president, vice president, first lady, or second gentleman,' said Psaki.
White House staff have been informed, she added.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters the White House was changing its COVID-19 disclosure policy on Wednesday and will now announce any positive tests among officials if they come into contact with President Biden, Vice President Harris or their spouses
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky also said no change in face mask policy but she noted people can make the 'personal choice' to wear one for more protection
'I’d also note, today an email from our COVID-19 operations protocol team has been sent to White House staff, informing them of the official policy, that if you are in close contact with the principal and test positive for COVID-19, your case will be disclosed to press along with any other relevant details,' she told reporters traveling with the president to Cincinnati, Ohio.
Psaki said more cases are inevitable.
'We know that there will be breakthrough cases, but as this instance shows, cases in vaccinated individuals are typically mild,' she said when asked about the White House case.
Psaki on Thursday insisted there was no decision to change the administration's mask policy while the CDC said it was still optional to wear face coverings.
Psaki was countering a report the administration was considering urging vaccinated Americans to start wearing masks again given the rising number of COVID cases due to the Delta variant.
'There has been no decision to change our mask guidelines,' she said at her press briefing.
'Any decision would come from the CDC,' she noted. 'No one who has been vaccinated is being advised to wear a mask,' she said for added emphasis.
Psaki acknowledged there are ongoing conversations about the COVID pandemic and how to handle the rising case numbers that consider multiple factors.
'We never said that battle was over,' she noted. 'It should be more concerning to you, the American people, if we were not having those conversations.'
The White House has used the argument that vaccinated people don't need to wear a face mask as a way to encourage people to get their shot.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky said Thursday that the agency's recommendations on face mask have not changed.
But, she noted, people can 'make the personal choice' to wear a mask as additional protection.
'As we've said consistently, the greatest risk right now is to those who are unvaccinated,' she said.
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