BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana state Treasurer John Schroder was hospitalized with COVID-19 and was being treated for respiratory symptoms, his office announced Thursday.
The Republican treasurer tested positive for the disease caused by the coronavirus shortly before Thanksgiving, according to Schroder spokesperson Michelle Millhollon.
She said in a statement that the treasurer “experienced breathing difficulties this week that required treatment. He is responding well. He is comfortable. And he is texting up a storm.”
“Because he had to cancel meetings and step away from the Main Street Recovery Program (a business grant program), he wanted to inform the public about his condition. He encourages everyone to protect themselves as best they can from this virus and hopes to be back at the state Capitol by the first of the year,” Millhollon said.
Schroder, 59, is a former member of the state House of Representatives who has been in elected office as state treasurer since 2017. Louisiana’s treasurer is the state banker, in charge of investing, disbursing and managing the state’s money and its savings accounts. He also chairs the Bond Commission, which oversees state borrowing and debt levels.
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson told The Shreveport Times on Thursday that both he and his wife were infected with COVID-19 recently, quarantined at home and have recovered. Johnson, a Republican from Benton, represents a northwest Louisiana-based district.
“Congressman Johnson worked throughout his illness from home, and is back now serving the constituents of Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District in his full capacity,” his spokesperson, Whitley Alexander, said in a statement.
Also Thursday, Republican U.S. Rep. Garret Graves from Baton Rouge announced he was exposed to the coronavirus and will quarantine.
“He will be tested and is making arrangements to safely travel back to Louisiana,” the 6th District congressman’s office said.
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