* Press release…
After a member of Governor JB Pritzker’s staff tested positive for COVID-19, the governor and all other close contacts will self-isolate for a 14-day period, pursuant to state and federal public health guidelines.
The staff member was tested on Wednesday during weekly testing for the governor’s office and was negative. After experiencing symptoms, the staff member was tested again Monday and confirmed as positive. The staffer attended events with the governor on Wednesday in Chicago, Thursday in Marion and Sunday in Marseilles. Both the governor and the staffer were wearing masks during the entirety of their interactions.
The staffer has been interviewed and a contact tracing effort is underway to ensure all close contacts are notified. Event organizers at each impacted event have also been contacted and made aware of the staff member’s positive results as well as appropriate next steps.
In accordance with state and federal guidelines, the governor and all close contacts will self-isolate for 14 days. In addition, all staff who currently report to the office are being tested and must test negative before reporting back to the office. Yesterday, all samples that were ran to test for COVID-19 came back negative.
Staff members reporting to the office have followed all public health safety protocols including weekly testing, daily temperature checks, wearing face coverings, social distancing and strict hygiene procedures. The office undergoes a weekly deep cleaning and an additional deep cleaning was conducted Monday night.
The governor will continue to hold regular COVID-19 press briefings which are live-streamed at illinois.gov/LiveVideo as well as on Facebook and Twitter.
My best wishes to everyone.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Sep 29, 20 @ 10:29 am:
Yikes. This is the second time Pritzker has had to self quarantine because a staffer of sick.
- DownStateR - Tuesday, Sep 29, 20 @ 10:34 am:
At least he does self-isolate when staffers come up sick, unlike other leaders.
- phocion - Tuesday, Sep 29, 20 @ 11:21 am:
Are they going to identify the staffer who has it so that others who may have been in contact will be aware?
- FIREDup!! - Tuesday, Sep 29, 20 @ 11:47 am:
Phocion, that’s why we have CONTACT TRACERS.
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Sep 29, 20 @ 11:49 am:
“Are they going to identify the staffer who has it so that others who may have been in contact will be aware?”
Are they going to expose an employee’s medical status?
Highly unlikely.
– MrJM
- Stu - Tuesday, Sep 29, 20 @ 12:03 pm:
===Are they going to identify the staffer who has it so that others who may have been in contact will be aware?===
Contact tracers make those who have been in contact aware without disclosing private medical information
- Not a Billionaire - Tuesday, Sep 29, 20 @ 12:23 pm:
Meanwhile next door Kim Reynolds said kids can go to school of they are exposed as long as they wear a mask.
- Give Us Barabbas - Tuesday, Sep 29, 20 @ 12:24 pm:
Checking to see if DeVore and his posse want to throw a rally to get JB to come out and play.
I hope the Guv’s okay; we really can’t afford it if he’s not.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 29, 20 @ 12:27 pm:
My best to the Staffer, and keeping all, including the Governor, the Staffer and all staff in my thoughts.
- Just Wondering - Tuesday, Sep 29, 20 @ 12:46 pm:
==At least he does self-isolate when staffers come up sick, unlike other leaders.==
———-
And unlike what happened when an SOS employee at the Chicago South facility tested positive in early August, but only half the building was closed:
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/08/04/workers-say-they-walked-off-job-after-illinois-secretary-of-states-employee-tested-positive-for-covid-19-but-only-half-of-chicago-south-building-was-closed/
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Sep 29, 20 @ 1:14 pm:
I hope our Governor is taking his daily dose of vitamin D3…especially important for those with a greater BMI.