Colorado governor quarantines
Aurora mayor tests positive after recent joint news conference
DENVER — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is quarantining himself after learning that Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman tested positive for coronavirus over a week after they appeared with other officials at a news conference, a spokesperson for the governor said Sunday.
In a statement, spokeswoman Maria De Cambra said Polis would quarantine while waiting to hear from health officials whether he should continue to isolate himself.
“He will be under quarantine until the health investigation is completed and he is informed. This is just another reminder of the need to cooperate with contact tracers, quarantine when needed, wear masks, social distance and, if you have any symptoms, get tested,” she said.
Coffman, a Republican who previously represented a suburban Denver district in Congress for five terms, announced his diagnosis Sunday on Twitter. He said he came home from work Thursday morning not feeling well, thinking he had a mild cold, but worked at home to be on the safe side. He said his symptoms cleared by Saturday and he got a rapid coronavirus test done Sunday, assuming it would clear him to go to back to the office and resume his schedule.
“Unfortunately, the results of the test were positive. I will have to quarantine at home,” Coffman said.
Coffman and Pol is attended an outdoor news conference Oct. 15 to promote Colorado’s mail ballot system, which Coffman helped administer as secretary of state during the 2008 presidential election. Polis’ partner, Marlon Reis, current Secretary of State Jena Griswold, Denver Clerk Paul Lopez and state Sen. Julie Gonzales also spoke at the event. They stood staggered on a sidewalk near a ballot drop-off box, and each wore a mask until taking his turn to speak at the microphone.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises anyone who has been in close contact with a COVID-19 patient to quarantine for two weeks.