A Georgia state senator has tested positive for COVID-19 and now all state senators are on self-quarantine.
Senate President Prom Tempore Butch Miller of Gainesville along with Majority Leader Mike Dugan of Carrollton and Minority Leader Steve Henson of Tucker made the announcement via email statement Wednesday night.
"Today, Senate members and staff were notified that a senator had been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), after first experiencing symptoms on March 10. As a result, and based upon the recommendation of the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health Dr. Kathleen Toomey and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Senate members and Senate employees have been asked to self-quarantine for fourteen days."
While the statement did not identify the senator, the Associated Press said Republican Sen. Brandon Beach of Alpharetta confirmed he received a positive diagnosis on Wednesday.
Beach began exhibiting symptoms on March 10 and attended the Senate as late as Monday, when the General Assembly met in a one-day special session to ratify Gov. Brian Kemp's declaration of a public health emergency. The regular session was suspended Friday because of the disease threat,
Beach told bystanders Monday that he wasn't feeling well. He said in a statement Wednesday that he was tested for the virus Saturday after experiencing a fever and a cough, but felt better with medication and attended Monday.
"Today, however, my test came back positive,'' Beach said. He said he's at home and is following his physician's direction to not go to a hospital unless he has trouble breathing.
Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan is part of the self-quarantine, since he presides over the Senate. Gov. Brian Kemp told AP he did not believe he had been exposed.
The Senate leaders also suggested members of the public who frequent the State Capitol might consider self-quarantine, and they advised any of those persons to contact a doctor should they begin to exhibit any symptoms of the illness.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
