Alaska government Mike Dunleavy (R) has tested positive for COVID-19, his agency announced Wednesday.
Dunleavy’s office said in a statement that he originally tested negative on Sunday after being identified as a close contact of someone who tested positive that morning. He began to go into quarantine to reduce possible exposure to others.
The governor felt fine until Tuesday evening and was retested on Wednesday morning. That test came back positive, the statement said.
Dunleavy’s office said there are currently no known close contacts with the governor as he was quarantined during his contagious period. Anne Zinke, chief medical officer of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, and the governor’s attending physician are watching him.
Dulvaney’s office had issued a statement on Monday, indicating that the close contact took place on Saturday. He began to isolate on Sunday, when he was made aware of the contact, according to the statement.
At least four Dunleavy employees tested positive for COVID-19 in October The Anchorage Daily News
Jeff Turney, assistant director of communications for the Dunleavy office, told The Hill that the governor has not yet been vaccinated and plans to be vaccinated when he qualifies for the state’s vaccination plan.
Alaska reported 175 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, bringing the cumulative total to 55,736. The state has reported 287 deaths since the start of the pandemic.