City Council President Hardin tests positive for COVID-19
Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin has tested positive for COVID-19.
Hardin told The Dispatch on Tuesday that he took a COVID test at home on Sunday after gathering with family for Christmas on Saturday.
“I’m feeling fine,” Hardin said. “I have no symptoms, other than a stuffy nose on Sunday.”
Earlier on Saturday, Hardin was sworn in to continue serving on council by Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Jaiza Page during a short ceremony outside First Congregational Church Downtown.
It took place before a small group of volunteers after Hardin had helped serve Christmas meals as part of the church’s Bethlehem on Broad Street program, which provides fellowship, including hot meals, to as many as 600 people a year.
Hardin was briefly unmasked during that time, and said he has contacted people he was around, including Page and family he was around later in the day.
“I had just been testing myself every couple of days,” Hardin said.
Hardin, 34, said he was vaccinated. He said he took the one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and received a booster.
“I’m just encouraging folks to get
vaccinated. I think that’s the reason why I have no symptoms,” he said.
He said he will quarantine at home and follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and talk to his doctors.
“The spread is pretty large in our
community now,” he said. He encouraged people who have not been vaccinated to do so, and for people to get tested before heading to New Year’s Eve celebrations. mferench@dispatch.com @Markferenchik