Illinois governor self-isolates after staffer tests positive for COVID-19

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) will self-isolate for 14 days after a member of his staff tested positive for COVID-19.

The staff member tested positive for coronavirus on Monday after experiencing symptoms, the governor’s office said in a Tuesday statement. The person attended events in the state with Pritzker last week and on Sunday. 

All other close contacts with the staffer are also set to self-isolate for 14 days. Contact tracing is underway, and staff who report to the governor’s office must test negative for COVID-19 before they can return. 

“Let this be a reminder to everyone that this virus knows no bounds and we must take this seriously,” Pritzker tweeted Tuesday, urging Illinois residents to wear a face mask or covering in public, practice social distancing and frequently wash their hands. 

A member of my staff tested positive for COVID-19. All close contacts, including myself, have tested negative and will self-isolate for 14 days out of an abundance of caution. Let this be a reminder to everyone that this virus knows no bounds and we must take this seriously. https://t.co/hAb9I7em3t

— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) September 29, 2020

We will only defeat COVID-19 if we look out for ourselves and one another. So please:

➡️ Wear a mask every time you’re in public
➡️ Watch your distance around others
➡️ Wash your hands frequently

These small steps can help slow the spread and ultimately save lives.

— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) September 29, 2020

Pritzker also confirmed that he has tested negative for the virus.

The Tuesday statement noted that “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.”

A senior member of Pritzker’s staff also tested positive for the virus in May, and the governor self-quarantined in his Chicago home at the time.