"I am strictly following the direction of our medical experts and strongly urge others to do the same," that the Louisiana Republican, himself a doctor, said in the announcement.
Senator Rand Paul, a Republican, is the only other senator to have tested positive for the virus, back in March.
Neither chamber is in session right now. In July, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a mask mandate for the House floor after Representative Louie Gohmert, who frequently refused to wear a mask, tested positive. Elsewhere in the Capitol, mask wearing is encouraged for lawmakers, but not mandated.
In July, face masks were mandated on the House floor by speaker Nancy Pelosi, after Texas representative Louie Gohmert tested positive for Covid-19.
Mr Gohmert, who publicly opposed masks and refused to wear face coverings while walking through Congress, said that he would only wear one if he tested positive for coronavirus, according to Newsweek.
After his diagnosis, he claimed that he had worn his mask more in the two weeks leading up to contracting Covid-19, than in the months previous, and said: “I can’t help but wonder if by keeping a mask on and keeping it in place if I might have put some of the virus onto the mask and breathed it in. I don’t know.”
The Senate has not implemented a mask mandate, but senators including Mr Cassidy are regularly seen wearing face coverings in the chamber and around the Capitol Building, according to CNN.
Senators and House representatives are currently on their summer recess, after they left Washington, DC, last month without an agreement on future coronavirus relief, as Democratic leaders and the White House could not agree on a package.
Mr Cassidy has been a strong advocate for coronavirus aid and has called for at least $500bn (£448.8bn) more to be given to state and local governments in the fifth round of stimulus relief, while the Trump administration has only offered $150bn (£134.6bn).
The Democrats have asked for at least $900bn (£681bn), and speaking during an interview with CNBC last week, Mr Cassidy said that his Republican colleagues need to increase their offer, and added: “We need to get something passed.”
Senator Rand Paul, a Republican, is the only other senator to have tested positive for the virus, back in March.
Neither chamber is in session right now. In July, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a mask mandate for the House floor after Representative Louie Gohmert, who frequently refused to wear a mask, tested positive. Elsewhere in the Capitol, mask wearing is encouraged for lawmakers, but not mandated.
In July, face masks were mandated on the House floor by speaker Nancy Pelosi, after Texas representative Louie Gohmert tested positive for Covid-19.
Mr Gohmert, who publicly opposed masks and refused to wear face coverings while walking through Congress, said that he would only wear one if he tested positive for coronavirus, according to Newsweek.
After his diagnosis, he claimed that he had worn his mask more in the two weeks leading up to contracting Covid-19, than in the months previous, and said: “I can’t help but wonder if by keeping a mask on and keeping it in place if I might have put some of the virus onto the mask and breathed it in. I don’t know.”
The Senate has not implemented a mask mandate, but senators including Mr Cassidy are regularly seen wearing face coverings in the chamber and around the Capitol Building, according to CNN.
Senators and House representatives are currently on their summer recess, after they left Washington, DC, last month without an agreement on future coronavirus relief, as Democratic leaders and the White House could not agree on a package.
Mr Cassidy has been a strong advocate for coronavirus aid and has called for at least $500bn (£448.8bn) more to be given to state and local governments in the fifth round of stimulus relief, while the Trump administration has only offered $150bn (£134.6bn).
The Democrats have asked for at least $900bn (£681bn), and speaking during an interview with CNBC last week, Mr Cassidy said that his Republican colleagues need to increase their offer, and added: “We need to get something passed.”