(Headline Health) Colorado’s Democrat Gov. Jared Polis has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Polis and his male partner, Marlon Reis, both have COVID-19 and are asymptomatic, the governor said in a statement Saturday night.
Polis had started quarantining Wednesday after he said he was exposed to the virus. Polis had tweeted late Wednesday that he tested negative the night after learning of his exposure but would be retested.
The state has been hit with a substantial spike in COVID-19 cases. One in 41 residents are believed to be contagious.
“It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, no one is immune from this virus,” Polis said in his statement.
“Now is the time to be more cautious than ever before,” he continued. “There is more of the virus circulating across the country, including in Colorado, now than there even was in the spring.”
Medical experts hope that the release of three viable vaccines starting in December will help protect vulnerable populations as the country—and the entire world—works toward herd immunity, a critical mass when at least 60 percent of the population has contracted and developed antibodies to fight the virus.
However, authorities warn that the process could be slow, and some pharmaceutical companies and others have been accused of intentional foot-dragging to deprive President Donald Trump, a Republican, of credit for his management of the recovery effort.
Polis said he will continue to serve the state while isolating himself. He urged residents to wear masks and keep 6 feet apart in public.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press
