Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley Gets Tested for COVID-19 After Flu-like Symptoms

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) speaks at a rally in Washington, on Sept. 26, 2019. (Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) is experiencing flu-like symptoms and has undergone testing for COVID-19, according to her spokesperson.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Party’s coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide.

Pressley’s spokesperson, Lina Francis, said Wednesday that the Massachusetts congressional delegate is awaiting the results of the COVID-19 test.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) speaks as Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) listen during a news conference in Washington, on July 15, 2019. (Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images)

Pressley is the second member of the Massachusetts congressional delegation to experience symptoms of the respiratory illness.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) speaks at a campaign event in Atlanta, Georgia, on Nov. 21, 2019. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) said Wednesday he decided to self-quarantine after experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Moulton, a former presidential hopeful, sought medical advice and was told that because the symptoms were minor and a test would not change his treatment, he did not qualify for a test.

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) speaks during the 2020 Public Service Forum hosted by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) at UNLV in Las Vegas, Nev., on Aug. 3, 2019. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Another recent congressional representative to announce flu-like symptoms is California Rep. Katie Porter, who said she, too, has been tested.

“Over the weekend, I had a fever over 100.4 degrees. As instructed, I continued to isolate in my bedroom and phoned my provider. I carefully followed all instructions to visit my doctor and received a test for COVID-19. I am waiting for results,” she said in a tweet earlier Wednesday.

State Rep. Mike Day is the first member of the Massachusetts Legislature to test positive for COVID-19, according to WBUR. The outlet reported Day announced he would go into quarantine for over two weeks.

The number of people in Massachusetts who have died from COVID-19 reached 15 on Wednesday. Public health officials said the number of residents who have so far tested positive for the disease jumped to more than 1,800. Nearly 19,800 have been tested and 103 have been hospitalized.

The U.S. coronavirus death toll topped the 1,000 milestone as the pandemic’s mounting economic burden was illustrated by government data on Thursday showing a record number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits and hospitals struggled to treat a surge of infected patients.

For most people, COVID-19 causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with pre-existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.

The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person, typically between people who are in close contact with one another and via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.