BUILLIT COUNTY, Ky. — A Kentucky lawmaker is back to normal life after being hospitalized with COVID-19.

Republican State Rep. Thomas Huff, of Bullitt County, said he was in isolation in the ICU for eight days.

“Well, I went in with a severe headache,” Huff said.

In December, Huff said he went to the emergency room twice due to headaches.

“And the second time I went in, they gave me a COVID test. I tested positive and they put me in a room. I was really not expecting it. They put me directly in ICU,” Huff said.

For the next eight days, Huff had no visitors. His family in Bullitt County recently experienced another loss. 

“Actually, I just lost my dad. He was in the ICU, COVID[-19] in October,” Huff said.

At one point during isolation, Huff doubted if he would go back home, thinking about the recent fate of his late father.

“Although the staff at UofL Hospital were great, the nurses, the doctors were all great, I still didn’t know if I was going to come out or not,” Huff said.

But on Christmas Eve, Huff returned home.

With the new Legislative session underway Tuesday, Huff said his stance on the coronavirus remains the same. 

“I don’t really like the forced aspect of lockdowns and mandates. I trust the people of Kentucky and I know the people of Bullitt County, the 49th district. I believe that we arm people with the information they need, they’ll do what’s right,” Huff said. “I don’t like closing little mom and pop stores and leaving the big box stores open. I think there’s a better way to do it."

The District 49 representative said one of his areas of focus during the session will be on emergency powers of the governor, KRS 39A.

“Which was never designed to deal with a worldwide pandemic. Emergency powers were meant to deal with a flood or an ice storm or a tornado, short-term natural event,” Huff said.

The legislative session begins Tuesday and runs through March 30.