Kelly Loeffler's latest coronavirus test comes back negative

An inconclusive coronavirus test for Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who had been self-isolating after testing positive, was retested overnight and came back negative, her campaign said Sunday.

The Georgia Republican, who has been actively campaigning for the state’s Jan. 5 runoff against Democrat Raphael Warnock, took two Covid-19 tests on Friday morning before appearing with Vice President Mike Pence at a campaign rally. The rapid test came back negative, but Loeffler, 49, learned on Friday evening that her PCR test — a more accurate sampling — came back positive, according to Loeffler’s spokesman, Stephen Lawson.

Loeffler’s third test on Saturday morning came back “inconclusive,” the campaign said late Saturday.

“Senator Loeffler followed CDC guidelines by notifying those with whom she had sustained direct contact while she awaits further test results,” Lawson added. “She has no symptoms and she will continue to follow CDC guidelines by quarantining until retesting is conclusive and an update will be provided at that time.”

In a new statement Sunday, Lawson said the inconclusive result was retested overnight and came back negative, but that Loeffler would continue to isolate and would be tested again. Lawson said the campaign would share those test results as they became available.

Loeffler’s campaign events have come under scrutiny for not adhering to CDC guidelines. Specifically, the senator has held indoor, largely mask-less events, including one last week with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

Seven senators have contracted the virus this year and two others tested positive for coronavirus antibodies. Last week, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) revealed positive diagnoses.

Loeffler was appointed to her seat earlier this year after Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) retired. Georgia’s twin runoffs are set to determine which party controls the Senate come January, so Loeffler and her counterpart Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) have been maintaining busy schedules criss-crossing the Peach State. Perdue is facing off against Democrat Jon Ossoff as he seeks a second six-year term in the Senate.

Pence spokesman Devin O’Malley declined to say when Pence last tested or if he was quarantining.

“As he awaits a confirmatory test from Senator Loeffler, Vice President Pence is in regular consultation with the White House Medical Unit and will be following CDC guidelines as he has in other circumstances when he has been a close contact,” O'Malley said.

James Arkin and Anita Kumar contributed to this article.