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Coronavirus: Rep. Raul Grijalva tests positive for COVID-19

Rep. Raul Grijalva said Thursday that he is experiencing mild symptoms of COVID-19 one day after testing positive for the viral infection.

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In a statement posted on social media, the Arizona Democrat said he remained in “good spirits” and that he has been fully vaccinated and had previously received a booster shot.

“I urge Arizonans to get their vaccinations, booster shots and wear N95 masks or equivalent,” he said. “We all have a role to play to protect our loved ones from COVID-19 and the risk of hospitalization, especially while Arizona is experiencing this surge.”

Public health officials have urged people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, noting that while the available vaccines do not entirely mitigate the risk of developing the viral infection, they protect well against severe illness caused by the virus.

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Since the start of the pandemic, several lawmakers have tested positive for COVID-19, including Reps. Sean Maloney, D-N.Y.; Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md.; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass.; James Clyburn, D-S.C.; Jason Crow, D-Colo.; Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash.; Tim Ryan, D-Ohio; Vern Buchanan, R-Fla.; and Joe Morelle, D-N.Y.

Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio; Chris Coons, D-Del.; Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; Cory Booker, D-N.J.; John Hickenlooper, D-Colo.; Roger Wicker, R-Miss.; Angus King, I-Maine; and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have also reported infections.

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As of Thursday morning, more than 75% of the U.S. population – 249.7 million people – has gotten at least one dose of any of the available COVID-19 vaccines, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 63% of Americans, or 209.5 million people, have been fully vaccinated, and over 39% of those who have been fully vaccinated have gotten booster shots, CDC data shows.

Officials have confirmed nearly 68.5 million COVID-19 infections and reported more than 857,000 deaths nationwide, according to numbers compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Over 338.3 million COVID-19 cases have been reported worldwide, resulting in 5.5 million deaths, according to the university.