Jon Huntsman Jr. confined to virtual campaigning after staffer tests positive for COVID-19

Jon Huntsman Jr. confined to virtual campaigning after staffer tests positive for COVID-19

(Ivy Ceballo, KSL)


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SALT LAKE CITY — Former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has stopped making public appearances pending the results of a COVID-19 test scheduled for Friday afternoon and closed his gubernatorial race headquarters for cleaning after a member of his campaign staff tested positive for the virus.

“The health of each member of our team and the public is our primary concern,” Huntsman said in a statement. “We are also working diligently to reach out to anyone who may have been in contact with this staff member during the time that the staffer was potentially contagious.”

He said the campaign “will follow the instructions of health experts and not put politics and campaign concerns ahead of health and safety.”

The infected staff member, who was not identified, was instructed to work from home once campaign officials learned late Thursday night that person had tested positive for COVID-19, according to a news release that also said action was taken to clean the headquarters and alert those who may have been exposed.

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Huntsman’s running mate, Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi, had not been in contact for more than 10 minutes or indoors with the infected staff member for several weeks, the release said, so she will continue her public schedule while practicing social distancing.

The release states the “safety precautions will be in place for the campaign until the appropriate health experts give the clearance to make changes.”

In May, Huntsman said he was sick during the first in-person candidate forum among the four Republicans running for governor in the June primary election, but had received negative test results for COVID-19 shortly before the event.

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