A staff member in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office has tested positive for COVID-19.
The governor’s office confirmed the diagnosis in a statement Wednesday.
The unidentified staff member tested positive "earlier this week," and contact tracing has already begun in conjunction with the state’s Department of Public Health. The person "had not interacted with the Governor or staff that routinely interacts" with Gov. Newsom, according to the statement.
COVID-19 protocols have been initiated within other state agencies as a precaution.
Another state employee, who is not on the governor’s staff, has also tested positive. The governor’s office was made aware of that positive test Monday. This person apparently "works in a shared workspace" with some of Gov. Newsom’s staff, but has not come into recent contact with the governor.
Read the full statement from the governor’s office below.
Earlier this week, our office received word that a Governor’s Office staff member tested positive for COVID-19. As soon as our office was informed of this positive test, our Director of Operations informed all Governor’s Office staff of the case and initiated the state’s COVID-19 protocols for state agencies. We are working with the California Department of Public Health on contact tracing. The individual had not interacted with the Governor or staff that routinely interacts with the Governor.
In a separate incident, another state employee who works in a shared workspace with some staff from the Governor’s Office tested positive for COVID-19 and our office was alerted Monday. In this instance as well, the individual had not interacted with the Governor or staff that routinely interacts with the Governor. Their employer has initiated the state’s COVID-19 protocols for state agencies as well.
We wish both individuals who tested positive well in their recovery.
Health and safety of staff have been a top priority for the office during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor’s Office mandates mask wearing in accordance with California State law and the California Department of Public Health’s guidelines. Early on in the pandemic, the Governor’s Office put in place a number of protocols that minimized the amount of staff physically present at work, converted most in person meetings to video conference calls, instituted a no questions asked remote work policy, and reduced seating capacity in meeting rooms for in-person meetings that can’t be done remotely. Those policies are still in effect and will be for duration of the pandemic.
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