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Another Edwards Staffer Tests Positive For COVID-19, Did Not Have Close Contact With Governor

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards holds up his mask as he addresses members of the press. Dec. 31, 2020.
Paul Braun
/
WRKF
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards holds up his mask as he addresses members of the press. Dec. 31, 2020.

A member of Gov. John Bel Edwards’ team has tested positive for COVID-19, the governor’s office disclosed  Monday morning.

The person is at home in isolation, per guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Louisiana Department of Health.

The staffer, who has not yet been identified, and did not have close contact with the governor or any other members of the staff. The CDC defines “close contact” as coming within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from two days before illness onset.

Multiple members of the governor’s staff have tested positive for COVID-19 since the state’s coronavirus outbreak began last March.

On Jan. 4, Edwards’ office announced that one staff member tested positive for COVID-19 over the New Year's Eve holiday weekend. Two other staffers who had close contact with that individual were asked to quarantine as well.

On Nov. 12, one staff member tested positive for COVID-19, prompting that person and one other to quarantine for 14 days.

In October, one staff member tested positive for COVID-19 and two additional staffers quarantined for 14 days.

In July, Jayce Genco, a former member of Edwards’ press office, tested positive for COVID-19, prompting 12 other staffers to quarantine.

And in March, April Dunn, a staff member of the Governor's Office of Disability Affairs, died of complications from COVID-19.

Copyright 2021 WWNO - New Orleans Public Radio

Paul Braun is WRKF's Capitol Access reporter.