WASHINGTON, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican House representative, said Wednesday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the first U.S. congressman to contract the virus.

His office said in a statement that the congressman has been in self-quarantine in his Washington D.C. apartment since Friday and developed symptoms including a fever and a headache on Saturday evening.

"I want everyone to know that I am feeling much better," Diaz-Balart said on Twitter.

A Politico report said the Florida lawmaker began to develop symptoms just hours after he left the House floor for a vote on a coronavirus response bill during the early Saturday session.

According to the lastest update by Johns Hopkins University, there are currently more than 9,077 confirmed cases and 145 deaths related to the coronavirus in the country.  ■