Mississippi lawmaker has coronavirus, days after meetings at capitol

Published 2:04 pm Friday, July 3, 2020

A Mississippi lawmaker has tested positive for the coronavirus, the Clarion Ledger reported Friday.

Democratic Rep. Bo Brown of Jackson told the Ledger on Thursday that he had received a positive test result for COVID-19, a day after legislators left the Mississippi Capitol.

Brown, 70, told the Ledger he took a test about a week ago because he was feeling a little unsteady and weak.

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“But I wasn’t feeling bad or anything like that,” he told the Ledger.

On Friday after receiving his test results, Brown said he would be staying at home to recover.

He is the first state lawmaker with a confirmed case, though at least two Capitol employees and a police officer have tested positive since March.

While the legislature was in session, many lawmakers did not wear masks or follow social distancing protocols. Brown told the Ledger he wore gloves and a mask “religiously” while at the Capitol. He said he was also tested for coronavirus three weeks ago, but that test came back negative.