Tillis tests positive for coronavirus

"I will be following the recommendations of my doctor and will be self-isolating at home for 10 days and notifying those I’ve been in close contact with," the North Carolina Republican said in a statement. "Thankfully, I have no symptoms, and I feel well."

Tillis campaign manager Luke Blanchat said they immediately notified Cunningham's campaign and Spectrum News, which hosted the debate, of the senator's positive test. They also are reaching out to anyone who attended a Tillis campaign event this week and may have been in close contact with the senator, Blanchat said.

Cunningham tweeted that he plans to get tested and wished Tillis "a quick recovery," saying he was "thinking of him and his family."

Spectrum officials said in a statement late Friday that they were notifying affected employees.

"Spectrum News staff followed appropriate safety protocols for the debate, and affected employees who were in close contact with the senator will follow CDC guidelines and quarantine and/or undergo testing as appropriate," the statement reads.

"The Tillis campaign staffers who were exposed to the senator this week will now quarantine and will receive tests in the coming days," Blanchat said in a statement. "Our Charlotte campaign headquarters is now closed, and we are halting all in-person campaign events until further notice."

Two GOP senators test positive for Covid-19, potentially jeopardizing Barrett confirmation vote

Tillis attended a ceremony at the White House last weekend at which Amy Coney Barrett was formally nominated for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, according to CNN.

U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah and fellow member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, also was at the event and has tested positive, NBC News has reported.

Tillis urged people to take all necessary precautions to limit the spread of the virus.

"As we all know, COVID-19 is a very contagious and deadly virus, especially because many carriers are asymptomatic," he said in his statement. "I encourage all North Carolinians to follow the recommendations of medical experts, including wearing a mask, washing hands and practicing social distancing.

"For any North Carolinian who believes they were exposed to the virus or starts to display symptoms, please call your doctor, self-isolate and get tested to protect those around you," he added.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper tweeted that he was praying for a quick recovery by Tillis.

"This is a highly contagious virus, but we can work together to fight it by wearing a mask, washing our hands and waiting 6 feet apart," Cooper tweeted.