Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart says he has tested positive for Covid-19, becoming the first member of Congress to announce he has contracted it.
Diaz-Balart, 58, a Republican who represents Florida's 25th congressional district that includes Miami-Dade County, said in a statement that on Saturday evening he developed symptoms, including a fever and a headache. He had already been in self-quarantine in Washington, D.C., something he said he started on Friday "in an abundance of caution."
He said he had not returned to South Florida because his wife, Tia, has a pre-existing condition that make her at high-risk of contracting the respiratory disease.
On Wednesday, Diaz-Balart was notified that he has a confirmed case of the virus that is quickly spreading across the country.
Diaz-Balart is now among more than 7,700 coronavirus cases in the U.S.
"I want everyone to know that I am feeling much better. However, it is important that everyone take this extremely seriously and follow CDC guidelines in order to avoid getting sick and mitigate the spread of this virus," Diaz-Balart said in a statement.
"We must continue to work together to emerge stronger as a country during these trying times," he said.