Two Newsom Staffers Test Positive For Coronavirus

CALIFORNIA — A staffer of California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office tested positive for coronavirus this week, but the individual has not interacted with the governor, the office said in a statement. Newsom's office has begun contact tracing.

Additionally, another state office employee who works in a shared workspace with some staff of the Governor's office tested positive for COVID-19. But this staffer has not interacted with the governor or his close staff either, according to the office's statement.

The office was notified about this incident Monday, the statement said.

Both individuals work in the Governor's extended office in the capital, Newsom confirmed Wednesday afternoon at a news conference.

"It's just another reminder of how easily transmitted this disease is," Newsom said. "...we're doing this by the book."

The governor's office has been working on a telework framework, the governor added and assured that there aren't a lot of people who work in any of his offices.

The office was working with the California Department of Public Health on contract tracing this week and the results would be available when the tracing was complete, Newsom said.

The last time Newsom was tested was when the president visited.

"We wish both individuals who tested positive well in their recovery," a spokesperson for Newsom's office said Wednesday.

Under privacy laws, the office said it was unable to disclose the identities of the individuals who tested positive for the disease.