CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A member of Governor Pritzker's senior staff tested positive for coronavirus late last week, his office said Monday, prompting all of the Governor's Office employees to work from home for an appropriate isolation period.
According to the Governor's Office, the staff member was asymptomatic and was in close contact with the Governor and other staff members, before testing positive late last week.
BREAKING: @WBBMNewsradio Political Editor @CraigDellimore is reporting one of Governor Pritzker's staff members has tested positive for COVID-19. Staff will begin working in isolation at home.
— Cisco Cotto (@CiscoCotto)
May 11, 2020 The Governor and all other staff reporting to the office tested negative. The Governor was tested again early on Sunday and tested negative.
Approximately 20 staff members have been regularly reporting in person to work in the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago during the COVID-19 pandemic, the office said in a statement, while the remainder of Governor’s Office staff have been working from home. Staff members have followed all IDPH safety protocols including daily temperature checks, wearing face coverings, social distancing, and strict hygiene procedures.
A member of my senior staff who was not exhibiting any symptoms tested positive for COVID-19.Following @IDPH guidance, the rest of our team – myself included – is working from home for the time being.This virus knows no boundaries, and we must stay the course to defeat it.
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker)
May 11, 2020 As a result of the positive test, all of the Governor's Office employees will work from home for "an appropriate isolation period" in accordance with guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health, Pritzker's office said.
According to the Governor's Office, the office will undergo deep cleaning, and staff are monitoring themselves for symptoms.
The Governor and staff will return to the office when IDPH deems appropriate.
Governor Pritzker will continue to hold daily press briefings via video conference which are live-streamed at illinois.gov/LiveVideo as well as on Facebook and Twitter.
