Harris Requires Senators, Guests Submit Negative COVID Tests to Attend Swearing-In Ceremony

When the 118th Congress convenes on Jan. 3 and members are sworn in, Vice President Kamala Harris is requiring senators, their spouses, and guests older than 2 to provide a negative COVID-19 test before participating in a photo op.
Grisella Martinez, who’s Harris’s director of legislative affairs, wrote the vice president’s requirements to the Senate sergeant-at-arms, who distributed the message to Senate offices last week.
“We look forward to welcoming your Senator on January 3, 2023, to the ceremonial reenactment for incoming and newly re-elected Senators in the Old Senate Chamber,” Martinez wrote.
“As you are aware, White House COVID-19 protocols require that anyone over two years of age who will interact with the Vice President take a medically-administered antigen test within 24 hours prior to interaction, and receive a negative result. This policy applies regardless of vaccination status.”…}