Gov. J.B. Pritzker, whose efforts to combat COVID-19 have dominated his first term, has tested positive for the virus and is experiencing mild symptoms, his office announced Tuesday.The positive test came during a routine COVID-19 screening and Pritzker has been prescribed the antiviral drug Paxlovid, his office said. He received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine in March 2021 and has received two recommended booster doses.AdvertisementThe governor last week made trips to the White House, Maine and Florida. On Monday, Pritzker’s office said he was in quarantine as a precaution after coming into close contact with individuals who’ve tested positive for the virus. On Tuesday, the office said he will continue working from home in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pritzker, who has had to quarantine several times over the last two years but has never previously tested positive for the virus, made his response to COVID-19 a cornerstone of his campaign when he announced his reelection bid during a lull in the pandemic last summer. His November rival, Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey of downstate Xenia, made his name challenging Pritzker’s executive orders on masking and school and business shutdowns aimed at slowing the spread of the virus.AdvertisementThe positive test comes as a highly transmissible coronavirus subvariant is driving new infections. It also comes as Pritzker has been raising his national profile in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and the deadly mass shooting at the Highland Park Fourth of July parade, fueling speculation about his presidential aspirations.Last week, Pritzker attended a White House event to mark the passage of bipartisan gun safety legislation, then spent the latter part of the week in Maine for …
Gov. JB Pritzker tests positive for COVID-19 – Chicago Tribune
