Sens. Hickenlooper, Wicker, and King check constructive for Covid after being totally vaccinated

Senator Angus King, I-Maine, left, Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS)

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Sens. Roger Wicker, Angus King and John Hickenlooper, who are all vaccinated against the coronavirus, tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday after symptoms.

Wicker, King and Hickenlooper are the latest in a line of prominent politicians who have announced positive coronavirus tests in recent weeks despite being fully vaccinated. Others include Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Governor Greg Abbott of Texas.

“Senator Wicker is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, is in good health and is being treated by his doctor in Tupelo,” Wicker communications director Phillip Waller said in a statement. The 70-year-old Wicker “is isolated and everyone with whom Senator Wicker has been in close contact recently has been informed.”

The Senate is on hiatus this week, and many of the Chamber’s members are in their home states either to prepare for the 2022 elections or to report to the district offices. Wicker is a Republican from Mississippi, King is an Independent from Maine, and Hickenlooper is a Democrat from Colorado.

Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper delivers a 20-minute campaign speech in the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair on August 10, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa.

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“Despite my best efforts when I had a mild fever yesterday, I took a test this morning at the suggestion of my doctor and it came back positive,” King, 77, said in a statement. “While I don’t feel great, I definitely feel a lot better than I would have without the vaccine.”

The three positive tests came as the Biden administration stepped up efforts to encourage Americans to get a booster vaccination starting next month, amid a growing pool of data showing that vaccine protection is wearing off over time.

“After experiencing mild symptoms, I tested positive for a breakthrough case of COVID-19,” Hickenlooper said in a statement Thursday afternoon. “I’m feeling much better and will continue to isolate myself as directed by the attending physician in Congress. I am grateful for the vaccine (and the scientists behind it) that have contained my symptoms and allowed us to continue our work for Colorado.”

Three of Washington’s top health experts on Wednesday gave more details on how immune system protection wears off over time.

It is now “very clear” that immunity decreases after the first two doses, and with the dominance of the Delta variant, “we see evidence of decreased protection against mild and moderate disease,” according to a statement signed by CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock, the White House Senior Medical Advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and other US health leaders.

Senator Angus King (I-Maine) holds a chart as bipartisan Senate and House members gather to announce a framework for new coronavirus relief laws at a press conference on Capitol Hill on December 1, 2020.

Kevin Lemarque | Reuters

New Covid-19 cases are occurring at the highest rates since winter as the delta variant of the coronavirus sweeps away US health experts showing that fully vaccinated people are still at risk.

More than 140,000 new cases and 822 deaths were reported in the United States on Monday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of new daily deaths has more than doubled since early August.

The situation in Florida and Texas is particularly dire as the case numbers in both states are breaking records and overwhelming hospital systems.