Republican Rep. Robert Aderholt said he is in quarantine and will miss votes this week after being potentially exposed to COVID-19.

Aderholt, who won a 13th term representing much of north Alabama earlier this month, said in a statement released by his office Sunday that we was in close contact for several hours with someone who subsequently tested positive for the illness caused by the new coronavirus.

Based on advice from the House physician, Aderholt said he would quarantine in Alabama and get another test later this week rather than return to Washington, D.C.

“Unfortunately, this also means I will have to miss votes this week, but the safety of my staff and colleagues is far more important, and I could possibly still expose someone,” said Aderholt, of Haleyville.

Aderholt, 55, said he did not have any symptoms of COVID-19.