A sixth Texas Democrat tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, their caucus confirmed, meaning that more than 10 per cent of those who fled the state a week ago to prevent the passage of an election bill are now infected.
Rhetta Bowers of Dallas told The Dallas Morning News of the politician's diagnosis, and said that she and others have brought food to those quarantining in their hotel rooms in Washington DC.
The six are all continuing to work remotely, she said.
The first of the 55 tested positive on Friday, then two more on Saturday and two more on Sunday.
Rhetta Bowers, in red, confirmed on Monday that six of the 55 Texas Democrats have now tested positive for COVID-19, since fleeing to Washington DC a week ago on a private jet
The Democrats are seen fleeing Austin on a private jet. None are wearing their face masks, and now six of the 55 have tested positive for COVID-19. All are fully vaccinated
The group began wearing masks and adjusting their plans on Saturday after they learnt of the diagnosis.
All those who tested positive were vaccinated, the Democratic caucus said.
State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer said he was one of the lawmakers who tested positive on Sunday. In a statement, he said he had 'extremely mild' symptoms and would quarantine until he tested negative.
Another lawmaker, State Representative Celia Israel, said she tested positive on Saturday.
The announcements came after the pair had spent days touring Washington, giving media interviews, and addressing crowds.
'Today, I received a positive COVID-19 rapid antigen test result. I am fully vaccinated, and had tested negative on Friday and Saturday. I am quarantining until I test negative, and I am grateful to be only experiencing extremely mild symptoms,' Fischer said in a statement.
Earlier on Sunday, Israel said in a statement: 'After given notice Friday evening that a colleague tested positive for COVID-19, I and my colleagues immediately took rapid antigen tests.
'While I tested negative, a subsequent test Saturday morning revealed I was now COVID positive. Let this be a reminder that COVID-19 is still very much among us, with infection rates on the rise and more contagious variants spreading nationwide. While I am fully vaccinated, this will not 100% prevent infection.'
San Antonio Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (left) said Sunday he was among the two new positive tests. Austin Rep. Celia Israel (right) confirmed she was among the initial group of three to test positive
Rep. Israel revealed on Sunday that she had tested positive for COVID on Saturday
Rep. Martinez Fischer released a lengthy statement following him testing positive for COVID
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer met with the Texas Democrats including Martinez Fischer (circled)
The rest have not been named.
Chris Turner, head of the Democratic caucus in the Texas House, said that once the first one developed symptoms 'we thought it was prudent to proactively test our members and staff.'
Hotel staff has done a deep cleaning in meeting space the Texans have used over the last week.
Bower told the paper she went out of her way to keep track of which colleagues tested positive so she could figure out whether she'd been around them. She survived a bout with COVID in December that also hit members of her family.
'We fought real hard to get well,' she said.
The group is staying in the Washington Plaza Hotel in northwest D.C., which featured an outdoor pool. The common areas used by the group have been deep cleaned following their diagnosis
Rafael Anchia, a representative for Dallas, said they are all grateful for the vaccine.
'We've been observing all CDC guidelines,' he said.
'We're grateful that 100% of us were vaccinated in advance. This Delta variant is no joke.'
Another member admitted it was a mistake to go maskless on private jets after five contracted COVID.
The group chartered two private jets at $100,000 to get the majority of the runaway members to D.C. last Monday.
Upon arriving in D.C., the group checked into the Washington Plaza Hotel in the northwest quadrant of the city. Rooms
