Wolf tests positive for COVID-19
Governor says he’s isolating, showing no symptoms and is following CDC guidelines
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday said he tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 and is in isolation at home.
“During a routine test yesterday, I tested positive for COVID-19. I have no symptoms and amfeeling well,” Wolf said in a statement.
Wolf, who is 72 and lives in York County, said he was following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, as well as those from the state Health Department.
A spokeswoman for Wolf said Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, members of Wolf ’s senior staff at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency headquarters and others who meet the definition of “close contact” to him are quarantining.
The spokesperson, Lyndsay Kensinger, said none of those people have tested positive. The department, she said, is doing contact tracing investigations.
Wolf ’s wife, Frances, has been tested and is quarantining at home with him as they await her results.
Kensinger confirmed that multiple members of Wolf ’s security team recently tested positive for the virus. The governor, she said, has primarily been at home, or at PEMA, during the last few months.
Wolf’s announcement came on a day his administration announced 8,703 more cases of the virus and 220 more deaths. Statewide, meanwhile, many were awaiting word on whether Wolf might issue more virus restrictions, something he indicated Monday was possible, if not likely.
Other governors who have tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 include those of Oklahoma, Missouri, Virginia, Nevada and Colorado. President Donald Trump also has had the virus, along with his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., said he likely had it.
In his Wednesday statement, Wolf said, “I am continuing to serve the commonwealth and performing all of my duties remotely, as many are doing during the pandemic.”
Wolf said his positive test result was a “reminder that no one is immune from COVID.”
He said he had followed “all precautions” to avoid the disease, and he reiterated his request that all Pennsylvanians wear a mask, stay home as much as possible, and use social distancing.
Wolf’s last appearance at an online news conference came Monday, when he and Levine talked about the out-of-control spread of the virus in Pennsylvania. Wolf said it appeared the most recent set of virus mitigation measures were not working and that more might be needed. Both wore masks as they took turns at the podium.
Wolf has repeatedly urged people to wear masks and to avoid congregating, and usually opens his broadcast news conferences by conspicuously using hand sanitizer.
Wolf is a former state revenue secretary and business owner who spent more than $10 million of his own money to win the Democratic gubernatorial primary nearly six years ago.
He easily won reelection in 2018.