87-year-old US senator Chuck Grassley tests positive for COVID-19

WASHINGTON -- US Republican Senator Chuck Grassley said on Tuesday evening that he had tested positive for the coronavirus.

"This morning, I learned that I had been exposed to the coronavirus," the 87-year-old senator said in a statement. "I received a COVID-19 test and immediately began to quarantine. While I still feel fine, the test came back positive for the coronavirus."

"I'm feeling good + will keep up on my work for the ppl of Iowa from home," he tweeted.

Grassley is the second oldest U.S. senator, a few months younger than California Democrat Dianne Feinstein, who is also 87.

Grassley was in the Senate on Monday and gave a brief speech from the Senate floor. Like most senators, he was not wearing a mask while he gave his speech from his desk to a largely empty chamber, according to U.S. news outlet The Hill.

The Iowa Republican becomes the sixth U.S. senator to test positive for COVID-19.