Rep. Louie Gohmert will take the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to treat his COVID-19, he announced this week.
Speaking to Fox News Wednesday evening, Gohmert (R-Tx.) said that his doctor had prescribed him the medication — which scientific data has shown is ineffective in treating the disease — and would begin a regimen by the end of the week.
“My doctor and I are all in, and I got a text just before I came on from a dear friend, [a] doctor, who just found out he had it, and he said he started a HCQ [hydroxychloroquine] regimen, too,” the Texas Republican told the network.
Gohmert, 66, said his treatment will also include taking zinc and erythromycin, an antibiotic often taken as an alternative by people with allergies to penicillin.
The GOPer went on to take a jab at those who had criticized him after his diagnosis, for his frequent refusal to wear masks.
“I got a tiny little taste of what you and the president get every day,” Gohmert told host Sean Hannity, “The left went nuts.”
Gohmert has been seen frequently walking around the Capitol sans a mask, defending his decision in an interview with CNN last month as unnecessary because he said he was regularly tested.
“[I]f I get it, you’ll never see me without a mask,” he told the network in June.
On Wednesday, Gohmert was tested again, this time ahead of a scheduled trip with President Trump on Air Force One to West Texas. That test came back positive.
As a result, three House lawmakers have announced their decision to self-quarantine: Reps. Kay Granger (R-Tx.), Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Mike Johnson (R-La.).
Attorney General William Barr was tested Wednesday after being exposed to Gohmert, however that test came back negative.
Gohmert is the seventh House lawmaker to test positive for the virus.
Reps. Mario Diaz Balart (R-Fla.), Neal Dunn (R-Fla.), Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Ben McAdams (D-Utah), Tom Rice (R-S.C.) as well as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have tested positive as well.