DES MOINES, Iowa – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that she is adhering to a “modified quarantine” due to a staffer of Vice President Mike Pence testing positive for COVID-19 who was present during her visit to the White House.
During her press conference on Monday at the state emergency operations center in Johnston, Iowa, she noted while the vice president’s staffer was present, the did not have contact with Reynolds during her visit.
Reynolds was also present during the vice president’s trip to the Des Moines area on Friday. The White House, on Friday, did not reveal how much contact that staffer had with Pence.
Reynolds said she would follow a plan recommended by Dr. Anthony Fauci recommends.
“My temperature will be taken before entering the building. I’ll be tested daily. I was tested this morning, and it was negative. And while here, I’ll practice social distancing and wear a mask when interacting with others, which will be minimal interaction,” she announced.
“If I begin experiencing any symptoms, of course, I will stay home. I spoke with my team over the weekend, and most will be working from home during this time, especially if they or a family member have health conditions that puts them at a higher risk. These steps are similar to what I’ve asked all Iowans to do if they’ve had contact with someone known to have the virus,” Reynolds stated.
“Again, while I didn’t have direct contact with the Vice President’s staff member, it’s important that I do my part to protect those around me while continuing to serve as your governor during this critical time. I want to assure Iowans that I’m healthy and feeling good. And I’m fully focused on leading Iowa’s response to the pandemic on our economic recovery efforts,” she added.
Reynolds announced there could be some adjustments made to her team’s routine to accommodate this. She said that she plans to do some work from home, as well as keep interactions with her team at the State Emergency Center to a minimum.
Listen to the full press conference below: