Reps. Lori Trahan And Stephen Lynch Test Positive For COVID-19

Two of Massachusetts representatives in Congress have tested positive for the coronavirus in as many days.

U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, who had received a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, his office announced.

Lynch is "asymptomatic and feels fine," his communications director Molly Rose Tarpey said in a statement, and he will self-quarantine and vote by proxy in Congress next week.

Tarpey said Lynch got a positive test result for the highly infectious virus Friday afternoon after a staffer in his Boston office tested positive earlier in the week.

"Congressman Lynch had received the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine and subsequently received a negative COVID-19 test prior to attending President Biden's Inauguration," Tarpey said.

On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan announced that she has tested positive for COVID-19.

She said in a tweet that after repeatedly testing negative for the disease caused by the coronavirus, she learned Thursday evening that she had tested positive for the virus.

Trahan said her offices in Massachusetts and Washington will remain a resource to residents of the state’s 3rd Congressional District, which she represents.

Trahan said she plans to cast votes next week using the U.S. House’s proxy voting system.

Trahan said she encourages everyone to follow protocols to reduce their risk of contracting the virus including wearing a mask, maintaining a safe social distance, avoiding large gatherings and staying home when possible.

With reporting by The Associated Press and by State House News Service's Chris Lisinski