Days Before Election, Perdue Enters Quarantine

Georgia senator was exposed to a campaign worker with the coronavirus
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Dec 31, 2020 3:55 PM CST
Georgia Senator Enters Quarantine Before Runoffs
Georgia Sen. David Perdue attends a rally with Vice President Mike Pence earlier this month in Augusta.   (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Republican Sen. David Perdue was forced into quarantine Thursday in the home stretch of Georgia's Senate runoffs, disclosing just five days before the election that he had been exposed to a campaign worker infected with the coronavirus. Perdue's campaign did not say how long he plans to stay in quarantine, the AP reports, but Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines say those exposed to the virus can resume normal activities after seven days if they have a negative test result. That would keep Perdue in isolation for the remainder of the campaign. "This morning, Senator Perdue was notified that he came into close contact with someone on the campaign who tested positive for COVID-19," the Perdue campaign's statement said. "Both Senator Perdue and his wife tested negative today, but following his doctor’s recommendations and in accordance with CDC guidelines, they will quarantine."

Perdue and fellow GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler are on Georgia's runoff ballot Tuesday. An announcement about Perdue was made Thursday at a rally for the two candidates in Gainesville, per CNN, where many attendees were not wearing masks. Perdue was scheduled to speak at the event. He faces Democrat Jon Ossoff, while Loeffler faces Democrat Raphael Warnock. If both Republican incumbents lose, Democrats will control the Senate. President Trump has scheduled a rally Monday to fire up turnout for Perdue and Loeffler in northwest Georgia. Democrats are also bringing their heavy hitters to the state. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris plans to campaign Sunday for Ossoff and Warnock in Savannah, followed by President-elect Joe Biden sharing a stage with the Democrats on Monday in Atlanta.

(More David Perdue stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X