WASHINGTON — Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Monday that he had tested positive for Covid-19 even after being vaccinated.
He said in a statement he started experiencing flu-like symptoms Saturday night and went to the U.S. House physician Monday morning.
"I feel like I have a sinus infection and at present time I have mild symptoms," Graham, who will quarantine for 10 days, said.
He added: “I am very glad I was vaccinated because without vaccination I am certain I would not feel as well as I do now. My symptoms would be far worse."
The Senate is making an aggressive push this week to pass a $550 billion infrastructure bill and every vote in the chamber could be critical.
Over the weekend, Graham attended a party on fellow Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va.'s houseboat, according to Graham's office and two additional sources familiar with the matter.
The event was held on Saturday on Manchin's houseboat, which is where he lives while in D.C. Senators were in town over the weekend to work on the bipartisan infrastructure deal.
"Senator Manchin is fully vaccinated and following the CDC guidelines for those exposed to a COVID positive individual," said Manchin's office in a statement.
Sens. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Chris Coons, D-Del., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and John Thune, R-S.D., said publicly to reporters on Monday that they also attended the boat party.
Thune's office said in a statement that he is fully vaccinated and following the appropriate public health recommendations, including being tested himself. His office added that he tested negative for the virus on Monday. Rosen told NBC News that she also tested negative on Monday.
Authorities and health experts stress that the vaccines remain remarkably effective at preventing serious illness and death from Covid. Breakthrough infections of people who have been vaccinated, which are expected with wide-scale vaccination campaigns, represent less than .08 percent of the 164.2 million-plus people who have been fully vaccinated since January, or about 1 in every 1,300.
A White House staffer and a senior communications aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently tested positive for Covid after being fully vaccinated.
