HELENA — A fifth Montana lawmaker has tested positive for COVID-19 during this year’s session, COVID-19 panel chairman Sen. Jason Ellsworth said Friday.
GOP Rep. Ross Fitzgerald of Fairfield is the third lawmaker to test positive for the virus in the span of a week. He received the positive result Friday after getting tested for the virus Wednesday. Fitzgerald gave permission for his name to be released, Ellsworth said in a statement.
Fitzgerald is a close contact of another lawmaker who previously tested positive for the virus. Two other GOP lawmakers tested positive in the week — Rep. Becky Beard on Wednesday and Rep. Brian Putnam on Sunday.
Fitzgerald was last in the Capitol on Feb. 5.
Contact tracing is ongoing.