A staff member working on Jon Huntsman’s gubernatorial campaign has tested positive for COVID-19, and the former governor has gone into temporary quarantine and canceled his in-person public events until he can also be checked for the virus.
“The health of each member of our team and the public is our primary concern,” Huntsman said in a prepared statement. “We will follow the instructions of health experts and not put politics and campaign concerns ahead of health and safety.”
The candidate and his running mate, Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi, both completed the online TestUtah.com survey, which indicate Huntsman needed to remain in quarantine until he can be tested. He’s scheduled to undergo a test, but until he receives results, he’s postponed his in-person events.
Kaufusi has not interacted in-person with the staffer for more than 10 minutes and hasn’t been indoors with the person for several weeks, so she can maintain her public schedule, the campaign reported.
Huntsman’s senior staff learned of the person’s positive coronavirus test late Thursday night, a campaign news release stated. After getting the news, the team sought guidance from public health experts, closed the campaign headquarters for a cleaning and began to alert anyone who might have been in contact with the staff member during the time the person was contagious, the release stated.
The ill staff member was told to work from home. The campaign will adhere to these new safety precautions until health experts give them the all-clear, according to a news release.
