Mississippi senator announces breakthrough COVID infection as his state leads country in case rates

• Roger Wicker, Mississippi's senior senator, has a "breakthrough" COVID infection.
• He is the second US senator to announce a COVID-19 infection following vaccination.
• Mississippi is currently leading the country in COVID-19 cases.

Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, who has been vaccinated against COVID-19, has tested positive for the disease, according to a spokesman

"Senator Wicker tested positive this morning for the COVID-19 virus after immediately seeking a test due to mild symptoms. Senator Wicker is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, is in good health, and is being treated by his Tupelo-based physician," said Phillip Waller, the senator's communications director, in a statement. "He is isolating, and everyone with whom Senator Wicker has come in close contact recently has been notified."

Wicker is the second US senator to disclose a "breakthrough" infection, following Lindsey Graham's diagnosis on August 3.

Meanwhile the pandemic continues to worsen in Wicker's home state of Mississippi; according to the New York Times COVID-19 tracking page, Mississippi currently has the highest per-capita case rate of COVID-19, with 118 cases per 100,000 residents.

Just 36% of Mississippians are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the second-lowest rate for a US state, except for Alabama.