U.S. Sen. Rand Paul's announcement Sunday that he tested positive for the coronavirus almost immediately made him a trending name on social media.

Some people called the situation ironic because Paul has voted twice against coronavirus relief bills — one was emergency funding and another was for free testing — and because his father, Ron Paul, has called the coronavirus a "hoax" intended to create panic and rob the public of their freedom.

The senator received criticism after CNN reported he had continued with his daily routine after taking the coronavirus test and not adhering to social distancing guidelines.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) released a statement after Paul's announcement of his diagnosis saying he would be self-quarantining since he sat next to Paul "for extended periods in recent days."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's daughter, Christine Pelosi, responded to a tweet pointing out Romney's wife has multiple sclerosis and said "Rand Paul's neighbor was right," referring to the 2017 assault at Paul's house in Bowling Green.

Her tweet received more than 22,000 replies from Twitter users calling her "evil" and demanding she apologized for the tweet.

Paul released a statement Monday afternoon defending his actions and saying he believed it "was highly unlikely" he would test positive.

“Perhaps it is too much to ask that we simply have compassion for our fellow Americans who are sick or fearful of becoming so," he said. "Thousands of people want testing. Many, like David Newman of The Walking Dead, are sick with flu symptoms and are being denied testing. This makes no sense."

His statement prompted more Twitter replies, including one that said he "should have known better" and others that accused him of being selfish and careless.

"You did not have enough 'compassion for our fellow Americans who are sick or fearful of becoming so' to vote for the COVID-19 bill," one person wrote.

Related:Rand Paul votes against bill funding coronavirus emergency aid

Others took issue with Paul's ability to get tested when he didn't fit the usual criteria.

Wesley Lowery of 60 Minutes wrote on Twitter, "Glad the senator is feeling well! And also … how did he get a test if he was asymptomatic and had no known contact with someone with coronavirus?"

Closer to home, Democratic Senate candidate Charles Booker, who's vying for a chance to face off against Kentucky's other senator, Mitch McConnell, in November, took the opportunity to condemn some of Paul's politics.

"I wish Sen. Paul well," Booker wrote. "However, this is another example of why he should not be in office. We need him to stand with all of us in securing the same financial security and COVID-19 relief we know he’s about to get. He won’t. Healthcare is not a privilege for those in power."

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Actor George Takei, who's toyed with the idea of being more involved in Kentucky's politics, wrote to remind people to be cautious.

"Rand Paul delayed the senate coronavirus vote to push a hopelessly doomed amendment. Now he has tested positive for the virus," Takei wrote. "I would like to remind everyone to socially distance, call your doctor if you have symptoms, and not mess around with karma."

Kentucky radio personality Matt Jones condemned people who celebrated the news on social media.

"People cheering on Rand Paul’s Coronavirus diagnosis are the worst," Jones wrote. "Yes he voted against the funding bill. I wish he hadn’t and one would hope he gains compassion. It’s a trait he too often lacks. But wishing poor health on anyone bc of political disagreement is awful."

Mike Broihier, another Senate candidate, made a call for prayers.

"The #COVIDー19 virus can and will affect anyone," he wrote. "It knows no partisan boundaries. We ask that everyone keep @RandPaul in their thoughts as we wish him a speedy and easy recovery. If ever there was a time for the spirit of #NotLeftNotRightButForward, this would be it."

Reach breaking news reporter Sarah Ladd at sladd@courier-journal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ladd_sarah. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe.