Pa. Rep. Gregory tests positive for COVID-19 in the second House case this week

State Rep. Jim Gregory, R-Blair, has COVID-19, a statement from his office confirmed Friday. 

Gregory is the second state lawmaker this week to test positive for the virus after Philadelphia Rep. Jordan Harris announced he had tested positive on Wednesday. 

Pa. Rep. Harris, House’s 2nd ranking Democrat, says he has COVID-19

Gregory was last in the Capitol building on Nov. 10 and at his Holidaysburg office on Nov. 9, according to the statement. Gregory said that he wore a mask both days. 

“My symptoms started in a minor way that initially made me believe I had a head cold. When I developed a fever, I eliminated contact with others and sought out a COVID-19 test,” Gregory said in the statement. 

Gregory’s last day at the Capitol was for House leadership elections, when the chamber’s 112 new members met to debate and vote on their new leaders.

Mike Straub, spokesperson for House Speaker Bryan Cutler, said precautions such as social distancing and masks were used for the elections, and that anyone who may have been in close contact with Gregory has been notified.

Also the House has implemented its COVID-19 contingency plan, Straub said. That includes temperature checks before lawmakers or staff enter the House floor. 

Anyone who does not consent to a check cannot enter the House, and could be subject to further action by the chamber’s bipartisan management committee.

Despite chamber policies, many Republican lawmakers do not wear masks while in the Capitol or on the House floor. 

The House is expected to be busy Friday as it finishes the state’s 2020-21 budget.

Gregory is the fifth state lawmaker to test positive for COVID-19 and the fourth member of the House to test positive. 

The Capitol reopens Monday, and visitors must wear masks. Will House lawmakers?