A Montgomery County Democratic lawmaker has joined the list of the members of Pennsylvania’s General Assembly who have tested positive for COVID-19 and is the second member of his caucus to do so this week.
House Democratic Appropriations Committee Matt Bradford announced his test results on Twitter on Thursday.
“I am feeling well. I believe I contracted the virus from a family member who became symptomatic and was tested on Tuesday,” Bradford wrote.
As a caucus leader, Bradford was at the Capitol this week as the House re-organized for the 2021-22 legislative session. He said he informed staff and the chamber’s human resources office on Tuesday that he would not be returning to Harrisburg and was tested on Wednesday.
House Democratic spokesman Bill Patton said two individuals met the definition of having been in close contact with him and have been advised of the quarantine guidelines and encouraged to reach out to a medical provider to see if testing is recommended.
Bradford’s announcement about his diagnosis comes a day before state Rep. Patty Kim, D-Harrisburg, announced she too tested positive. Kim posted on Twitter on Friday, “I’m feeling fine with just mild symptoms. I will be quarantining at home with my family.”
Kim told PennLive she was last at the Capitol on Monday to get sworn in and then left. After feeling rundown, she was tested Monday evening and got the results back on Friday morning.
Ten months into the pandemic, more than a dozen lawmakers – including at least one from each of the four legislative caucuses – have tested positive for the virus. The first was Rep. Andrew Lewis, R-Dauphin County, who self-disclosed in May he had tested positive 14 days after his exposure. That delay prompted the House to alter its notification policies and put in place other COVID-19 mitigation measures that some Republican members still chose to ignore.
Others who have tested positive include House Republican Reps. Paul Schemel of Franklin County; Jim Gregory of Blair County, Doyle Heffley of Carbon County, Barry Jozwiak of Berks County, Rosemary Brown of Monroe County and the late Mike Reese of Westmoreland County, who died Jan. 2 from a ruptured brain aneurysm; House Democratic Whip Jordan Harris of Philadelphia and Rep. Summer Lee, D-Allegheny County; Republican Sens. Doug Mastriano of Franklin County and Judy Ward of Blair County; and Senate Democratic Whip Anthony Williams of Philadelphia.
* This post was updated to include House Democratic spokesman Bill Patton’s comments and to add Rep. Summer Lee to the list of lawmakers who have tested positive.
Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.