Florida senator Rick Scott tests positive for coronavirus

WFLA Staff, Sydney Kalich

Updated: Nov 20, 2020 / 09:13 AM CST

CUMMING, GA – NOVEMBER 13: U.S. Sen Rick Scott (R-FL) speaks at a campaign event to supporters of Senator David Perdue and Senator Kelly Loeffler at a restaurant on November 13, 2020 in Cumming, Georgia. There is a runoff election between Loeffler and Democratic opponent Raphael Warnock scheduled for Jan. 5, along with a second Senate runoff between Republican incumbent David Perdue and Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff. (Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images).

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida Senator Rick Scott announced Friday that he tested positive for the coronavirus following a routine rapid test.

“After several negative tests, I learned I was positive this morning. I am feeling good and experiencing very mild symptoms,” Scott said in a tweet Friday morning.

Scott was forced to quarantine Saturday after returning to Florida on Friday evening and coming into contact with someone who was infected with the virus.

The Republican senator said he will continue to work from home in Naples until he’s cleared to go to back to the capitol and urged others to wear masks, practice social distancing and quarantine if they’re exposed to the virus.

“As we approach Thanksgiving, we know this holiday will be different this year. But, listen to public health officials and follow their guidance,” he said. “We will beat this together, but we all have to be responsible. I want to thank all the incredible health care workers who are working around the clock to care for patients and I pray that by next Thanksgiving, COVID-19 will be a thing of the past.”

Scott is one of the many senators who has tested positive for the virus including Senator Chuck Grassley, Senator Thom Tillis and Senator Mike Lee. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and other notable administrations officials including Hope Hicks also tested positive for the virus in early October.

The announcement comes as state health figures show coronavirus is on the rise in Florida. The state reported 9,085 new cases and 79 more deaths on Thursday, according to data complied by Johns Hopkins University. There have been 914,333 confirmed cases and 18,030 death statewide.