MONTPELIER — Gov. Phil Scott tested negative Wednesday for COVID-19 but remains in quarantine after he and other top-ranking officials were potentially exposed to the virus, according to the governor’s office.
Scott is expected to be tested again next week on his seventh day of quarantine.
The governor’s office announced Tuesday that a person who attended his two most recent press conferences — on Jan. 15 and Jan. 19 — had tested positive for the virus and that the governor and members of his cabinet would quarantine as a precaution.
The administration identified the person only as a “contractor who provides services” at the twice-weekly events.
Scott, Health Commissioner Mark Levine, Financial Regulation Commissioner Mike Pieciak, Human Services Secretary Mike Smith and Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling went into quarantine because they’d been fairly close to the positive case.
Earlier on Wednesday, Scott’s office reported that communications director Rebecca Kelley, and former Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon, who had been a guest speaker at Tuesday’s briefing, were also quarantining as a precaution.
Neither the governor nor any cabinet members were experiencing symptoms, Scott’s office reported.
The governor chose to quarantine in his Montpelier office, which includes a small apartment, according to the administration.
“Everyone from the administration currently in quarantine is feeling good and remains focused on our pandemic response,” Scott said in a statement Wednesday evening. “We will keep everyone updated, every step of the way.”
Neither Scott nor Levine had been vaccinated for COVID-19, according to Scott press secretary Jason Maulucci. At a press conference last month, the governor said he was reluctant to avail himself of the vaccine ahead of high-risk Vermonters and front-line health care workers.
Seventeen people attended each of the briefings, including cabinet officials, reporters, security and interpreters, according to the governor’s office. The events are held in the Pavilion Auditorium in Montpelier.
State contact tracers have been investigating the event, and the governor’s office has informed those who attended the briefings of their possible exposure.