By The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — A longtime Indiana lawmaker has returned to the Legislature after being hospitalized with COVID-19.

Democratic Rep. Vanessa Summers of Indianapolis told House members Tuesday that she was hospitalized for 18 days, including 11 days in the intensive care unit, and was still using supplemental oxygen to breathe.

The 62-year-old Summers said everyone needs to take the coronavirus seriously and urged the wearing of face masks and hand washing to slow spread of the virus.

Legislative leaders have declined to release information about how many lawmakers or staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 infections since the General Assembly session began in early January. Republican House Speaker Todd Huston said a fever lasting several days was his most severe symptom from a COVID-19 infection he suffered in December.

Summers, who has been a House member since 1991, credited walking about 15 miles a week before she became sick with helping her survive COVID-19.