DENVER (KDVR) — According to House Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder, a House Minority staffer who tested positive with COVID-19 last week attended the special session at the state Capitol on Monday.
Becker’s full statement:
“This afternoon we learned that a House Minority staffer tested positive for COVID-19 last week and was on the House Floor this morning. The staffer has been sent home and is not permitted to return through the special session and until she tests negative. This was a reckless breach of the House’s safety protocols, and it will not be tolerated. The minority’s dangerous disregard for simple and effective protections and this staffer’s presence on the floor has placed the health of every lawmaker and member of staff at risk as we meet to pass critical legislation to help Coloradans get through this crisis. Republicans in the House must put the people of Colorado first and follow the House’s common-sense safety protocols.”
A list of recommendations for COVID-19 protocol were released to members attending the special session ahead of time.
Colorado House Republican Leader, Rep. Hugh McKean released this statement following House Speaker KC Becker’s statement:
“This afternoon a House Aide was asked to work remotely after concerns with a positive COVID test. The test was not performed at the Capitol today, in fact it was a positive test on November 17th. That Aide sought the advice of their physician and was given permission to return to work in person on the 24th of this month.
These concerns arose after a Facebook post that mentioned the positive test.
The statement that this individual tested positive last week is in error, after consulting with the Aide and finding that the test was performed on November 17th and cleared to return to work in person on the 24th, there should be minimal concern about their condition.”
Leader McKean addressed the House at the end of the Special Session Monday to update the legislature on the staffer in question.
He said she is in good health following her diagnosis, spent an extra six days in quarantine and passed all temperature and health checks at the Capitol. The staffer has been battling brain cancer since 2016, he said, and takes the spread of COVID-19 very seriously.
McKean read a statement from the staffer, which said, in part, “As someone who has battled a serious illness for years, I would never want to put any of my colleagues at risk. I took every precaution seriously and followed all recommendations of my doctor.”