- Sen. Susan Collins has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms, her office said.
- The announcement came just 3 hours after she voted to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.
- Collins was one of the only lawmakers in the chamber that was wearing a mask during the vote.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday mere hours after voting to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, her office announced.
"Senator Collins has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently experiencing mild symptoms. The Senator will isolate and work remotely in accordance with CDC guidelines," her office said in a release.
Her office made the announcement just over three hours after the confirmation vote, which saw a packed Senate chamber erupt in cheers as the first Black woman appointed to the Supreme Court was confirmed by a 53-47 margin.
According to POLITICO's Burgess Everett, Collins learned of the positive test result at 4pm, two hours after the vote.
The Maine Republican was one of three members of her party — alongside Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — that broke ranks to confirm Jackson.
Collins' diagnosis also came the same day that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a positive case, forcing her to cancel a press conference and a congressional trip to Taiwan.
Several other senior officials, top aides, and members of Congress have tested positive for the virus in recent days, including Attorney General Merrick Garland, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California, and Vice President Kamala Harris' communications director Jamal Simmons.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser also revealed on Thursday that she has COVID-19.
This is a developing story. Please check back for further updates.