Judge Amy Coney Barrett meets with Vice President Mike Pence and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell at the US Capitol. | Erin Schaff/Pool/Getty Images

The Senate is out until October 19 due to Covid-19. Barrett’s confirmation hearings will continue.

With the number of Republican senators testing positive for Covid-19 growing by the day, the US Senate won’t come back until October 19, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced on Saturday.

Even so, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee are still moving forward with their October 12 Supreme Court confirmation hearing for Judge Amy Coney Barrett — even though two Republican members of the committee have tested positive for the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19.

“According to the standing rules of the U.S. Senate, committees may convene regardless of whether or not the Senate is in session,” a Judiciary Committee spokesperson said in a