Murrieta, Temecula Supe Chuck Washington Isolates: COVID Exposure

TEMECULA, CA — Riverside County Third District Supervisor Chuck Washington is under quarantine Monday after being exposed to someone infected with COVID-19.

Washington began his isolation on July 28 after being notified that he had come into contact the day prior with a person infected with coronavirus, the supervisor's chief of staff, Michelle DeArmond, wrote in an email.

The regularly scheduled Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting was held July 27.

"It's important to note that Supervisor Washington has been fully vaccinated for months but quarantine was still recommended," DeArmond said. "He takes the virus seriously."

She said Washington was tested for COVID-19 Monday morning.

"Assuming it comes back negative, which we expect, his quarantine will be lifted at that time," DeArmond said.

The 68-year-old supervisor represents southwestern Riverside County, including the cities of Hemet, Murrieta, San Jacinto and Temecula.

DeArmond said Washington was "deeply disappointed" that the quarantine forced him to miss the grand opening of the French Valley Library on Saturday.

The Press-Enterprise reported that Second District Supervisor Karen Spiegel was also isolating due to COVID exposure. She has said publicly that she tested positive for the virus in July 2020, and that she received full vaccination once the vaccines became available.

First District Supervisor Kevin Jeffries told the newspaper that he also quarantined until receiving a negative COVID-19 test. The P-E reported that Fifth District Supervisor Jeff Hewitt did not respond to multiple requests for comment, and First District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez’s status was not immediately available Monday afternoon.

The Press-Enterprise also reported that the Board of Supervisors' information technology support team was quarantining, though it was unclear if the IT team and the supervisors were exposed to the same person.