Kansas Gov. Kelly won’t get a COVID test after event with infected lawmaker. Here’s why.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly began her Wednesday planning to get a COVID-19 test.
On Monday, Kelly held a press conference at a Topeka grocery store announcing her plan to push the Legislature to eliminate the state’s food sales tax. Tuesday night, the Topeka Capital Journal reported that Rep. John Alcala, a Topeka Democrat who attended the event, had contracted a mild case of COVID-19 despite having been vaccinated.
A spokesman told reporters Wednesday morning the governor would get a test. Later, however, there was a change of plan.
“Today, the Governor received medical guidance that because she remains symptomless and was not in close contact with Rep. Alcala at Monday’s event, she will not be tested for COVID-19,” a spokesperson for Kelly said in a statement.
The Centers for Disease Control defines close contact exposure to COVID-19 as being within six feet of an infected individual for 15 minutes or longer in a 24-hour period.
The agency recommends vaccinated individuals who are close contacts wear a mask indoors and get tested five to seven days after they are exposed.
This story was originally published November 10, 2021 at 5:44 PM.
