Budd, Foxx Return To Washington After Positive COVID-19 Tests

U.S. Representative Ted Budd has been medically cleared by the Attending Physician of the U.S. Congress to return to Washington after announcing a week ago that he had tested positive for COVID-19. 

Budd made the announcement on social media that he's back in the nation's capital. In a video, he expressed his gratitude to those who supported him.

 “I'm incredibly thankful for all the prayers and well-wishes that came our way last week, and I can't wait to get back to the people's work,” he says. “So let's get to it.”

The 13th District representative announced on Dec. 1 that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and that he would be quarantining on his Davie County farm.

That word came just weeks after Budd cruised to a third term in the November election.

Fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx of Banner Elk tested positive the week of Nov. 23, communications director Alex Ives said on Monday. 

Ives said it's highly likely the 77-year-old Foxx became infected after she was exposed to her immediate family, particularly since a COVID-19 test that Foxx took earlier that week was negative.

Foxx, who won her ninth term to the 5th Congressional District seat last month, was asymptomatic and stayed clear of the public and staff during her quarantine period, Ives wrote. She was cleared by health department officials and resumed her U.S. House duties in Washington on Monday, according to Ives.