Candidate Cabrera tests negative for COVID

17th District Democrat felt symptoms Friday

HAMDEN — Jorge Cabrera, the Democrat candidate for the 17th state Senate seat, has tested negative for the coronavirus.

Cabrera had gotten a test for the virus Saturday after coming down with symptoms that resembled COVID-19 on Friday night. He received the results Sunday.

“This morning I was informed that my wife and I tested negative for Covid-19!” he said in a release Sunday. “I am currently resting and will return to campaigning once I fully recover. I appreciate all the support I’ve received over the last two days. It’s important that we all remain vigilant throughout this pandemic and our team will continue the best safety practices put forth by the CDC as we have throughout the campaign. I look forward to being back out on the trail talking about the issues that matter most to the residents of CT.”

Cabrera is challenging state Sen. George Logan, R-Ansonia, for the second time; the district includes Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Hamden, Naugatuck and Woodbridge.

Cabrera had said he felt “symptoms of COVID-19, which included fatigue, fever, chills, and vomiting” on Friday night. He went to the Yale New Haven Hospital Emergency Department to be seen but said doctors did not give him a COVID test, despite suspecting he had the disease.

He went into quarantine and told staff members to get tested and quarantine themselves.

Asked why Cabrera did not receive a coronavirus test when he went to the Emergency Department

Friday, a Yale New Haven spokesman said in an email, “While we cannot discuss specifics of care, we do not offer COVID testing in the Emergency Department unless the patient is being admitted. Patients are directed to either call our Call Center to be scheduled or schedule a test on their own.”

The New Haven Register has asked for further comment from Cabrera.

Contributed photo Jorge Cabrera, Democratic candidate for state Senate District 17.