WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Congress has seen an unprecedented increase in COVID-19 case numbers, with 7-day positive rates at a test site for Congress increasing to 13%, compared to 1% late November. According Monday’s statement by the Capitol’s medical attending,

Capitol Hill has seen the majority of coronavirus-related infections. The Omicron and Delta strains represent 61% and 38% respectively, according to Dr. Brian Monahan’s Jan. 3 letter.

This surge is due to the doubled number of COVID-19 new cases in America in the last 7 days, to an average 418,000 a daily according to Reuters.

Monahan pointed out that none of the breakthrough infections in the Capitol Hill population have resulted in hospitalizations or serious complications, which he stated was a testimony to the importance and value of vaccines.

U.S. officials have been encouraging Americans who are vaccinated to receive boosters, and those not vaccinated to inoculate, as they face a greater risk of contracting severe COVID-19 or even death, and to continue to urge them to get vaccinated.

According to the letter, approximately 65% of COVID-19 patients at Capitol were symptomatic. Others have shown no symptoms in cases where they tested positive.

Although the Senate had been due back Monday following a year-end holidays break, they met for only one session after a severe snowstorm forced them to cancel their testing at the Capitol.

Although the attending physician didn’t recommend any changes to an existing rule that requires masks be worn inside Capitol when others are present at all, he recommended staff and members to use medical-grade masks over simple cloth ones.

To reduce the number of in-office meetings, he urged Congress offices, committees, and agencies to examine their operations immediately.