Sen. Scott calls for study on use of canines to screen airport travelers for COVID-19
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – COVID-19 detecting dogs are being trained in North Florida, and they may have a future with the Transportation Security Administration. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., is one of the lawmakers asking for more information about using canines in airports to detect COVID-19. Scott and U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., on Monday announced the Fly Safe Canine COVID Detection Act. It directs the TSA to conduct a feasibility study on the use of canines to screen travelers at airports for COVID-19. We asked him what he thinks about the Senate bill on using canines in airports and how it could work.
Sen. Rick Scott tests positive for COVID-19
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., announced Friday morning on Twitter that he has tested positive for COVID-19. Earlier this week, Scott said he was in self-quarantine after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. After several negative tests, I learned I was positive for COVID-19 this AM. — Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) November 20, 2020In Friday’s update, he said his positive test followed several negative tests. Quarantine if you come in contact with someone positive like I did,” Scott said in a statement released by his office.
Sen. Scott quarantines out of ‘abundance of caution’
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said this weekend he was in a self-quarantine after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. “After arriving in Florida last night, I came into contact with someone who subsequently tested positive for COVID,” Scott said in a Twitter post Saturday. I have no symptoms, but out of an abundance of caution, I will be immediately quarantining.”As of Monday morning, Scott had not provided updates on his status. Scott entered a similar self-quarantine in March after having contact in Miami with a member of a Brazilian delegation who tested positive for the coronavirus. As in the current case, Scott reported no symptoms and was back on the Senate floor within 13 days to vote on a federal stimulus package.
Sen. Scott seeks information on rapid tests
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., sent a letter Thursday to federal Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and governors throughout the country asking for detailed information about the distribution of rapid “antigen” tests for COVID-19. The request included information about how many tests have been distributed to each state and how the states subsequently are parceling out the tests. In his letter, Scott asked Azar whether the Department of Health and Human Services has distribution information from the states. Antigen tests detect specific proteins on the surface of the virus and come back within 15 minutes. However, antigen tests can have false negatives, and results may need to be confirmed with molecular tests.