The GOP senator says he knows his ‘symptoms would be far worse’ if he hadn’t been vaccinated
Graham, before he got his results, was in the Senate on Monday morning, according to people who talked to him. He was wearing a mask at the time.
West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin entertained a small group of senators on his houseboat over the weekend — and Graham was in attendance, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
Manchin’s office declined to comment on the attendance on his boat.
“Sen. Manchin is fully vaccinated and following the CDC guidelines for those exposed to a COVID-positive individual,” Manchin spokeswoman Sam Runyon told CNN in a statement.
Manchin later told reporters that he has tested negative for Covid-19.
“Negative,” Manchin said after he was asked if he had gotten tested. Asked if senators were celebrating on his boat, Manchin said, “There were no celebrations. We’re just trying to keep people together. We do everything in a bipartisan way and that’s what we do.”
Asked if he anticipates Graham’s positive test will impact timing for any amendment votes, Manchin said, “No, no.”
The announcement from Graham comes amid the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19, which has prompted the recommendation of new safety guidelines.
The CDC recently changed its masking recommendations as it grows more concerned over the Delta variant, urging vaccinated people in certain areas of the country to resume wearing masks indoors in public areas.
The US House reinstated its mask mandate last week. The attending physician for Congress has also advised Senate leaders that it is recommended to wear masks in indoor spaces when other individuals are present, according to a letter obtained by CNN. Almost all Democratic senators have been seen by CNN wearing masks again.
Asked last week if he plans to wear a mask amid new CDC guidance, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell did not respond as he walked to the floor.
The White House wished Graham a “speedy recovery” after the news of his diagnosis.
“We certainly do hope that Sen. Graham has a speedy recovery and his, his experiences mild symptoms and you know we wish him the best of health through that,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at a briefing on Monday.
Psaki also stressed that “every single piece of available evidence shows that breakthrough infections are rare and mild,” citing a “range of data.”
This story has been updated with additional developments Monday.
CNN’s Nikki Carvajal, Annie Grayer, Deidre McPhillips and Kate Sullivan contributed to this report.
