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BELLEFONTE -- Another area politician has tested positive for COVID-19.
House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Bellefonte), the No. 2 Republican in the Pennsylvania House, is quarantining at home after testing positive for a breakthrough case of COVID-19.
According to statement from his office, Benninghoff is fully vaccinated. He was tested just before Thanksgiving when he began experiencing mild symptoms. Test results received on Monday confirmed the diagnosis, the statement said.
Benninghoff has not been in the state Capitol since Nov. 18 and has been quarantining since being tested, the statement said.
"I am thankful for the health care professionals who have helped me, and many others, through this process," Benninghoff said in the statement. "I will continue to follow their advice and all COVID-19 protocols of the House Republican Caucus before ending my quarantine. My symptoms are mild, and I am working from home as my offices in Bellefonte, Reedsville and Harrisburg continue to serve the people of the 171st District and deliver on a productive agenda for the people of Pennsylvania."
The House Majority Leader is in the middle of his 13th term representing the 171st District, which includes portions of Centre and Mifflin County. In Centre County, the district represents Bellefonte, Centre Hall and Millheim boroughs; Gregg, Harris, Penn, Potter, Spring and Walker townships; and parts of College and Ferguson townships.
Benninghoff has been House majority leader since June 2020 after spending a year and a half as majority whip.
Benninghoff is the second high-ranking state legislator from Centre County to test positive for COVID-19 this month. Earlier this month, State Sen. Jake Corman (R-Bellefonte), the top Republican in the Senate, tested positive. The positive test forced a postponement of his announcement of his campaign for governor.
Another politician, U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Bellefonte), also tested positive for COVID-19 in October. Both Corman and Thompson said they were fully vaccinated. Both have since recovered from the deadly virus.