- Credibility:
LOGAN SQUARE — A member of Gov. JB Pritzker’s staff who works closely with the governor has tested positive for coronavirus.
The Governor’s Office did not identify the staff member but said he or she is a senior staffer who tested positive “late last week and was in close contact with the governor and other staff members.” Pritzker was tested Sunday and the result was negative.
All other staff members who have been reporting to the governor’s office have tested negative, as well. But the staff and Pritzker will still self-isolate for “an appropriate period” based on guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health, according to the office.
In the meantime, Pritzker will hold his weekday briefings at 2:30 p.m. — but now they’ll be held via video conference with no reporters present.
The press conferences are streamed online and on TV.
About 20 members of the governor’s staff have been regularly going to the Thompson Center, which Pritzker has worked out of during the crisis. The rest of the governor’s staff members have worked at home.
The office will get a deep cleaning and Pritzker and his staff will return when it’s deemed appropriate to do so by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
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