Updated 04/06/21
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has tested positive For COVID-19.
The governor’s office said in a statement Monday evening that Gianforte tested positive after experiencing mild symptoms on Sunday. He is now isolating for 10 days and his office staff are being tested.
Gianforte’s office has also confirmed that first lady Susan Gianforte has tested positive for COVID-19. The first lady was tested Monday and received the positive result Tuesday.
Spokesperson Brooke Stroyke says 25 members of the governor's office staff were tested Tuesday morning and all received a negative result.
Stroyke says the governor has had close contact with one staff member and family and friends who he had dinner with. Gianforte and the first lady also attended Easter service Sunday, but Stryoke says they weren’t experiencing symptoms, wore masks and had no close contact outside of family.
Gianforte’s last public event was Thursday when he received his first dose of a COVID vaccine at a Walgreens in Helena and met with members of his cabinet, legislators and greeted Miss Rodeo Montana at the Capitol.
Coronavirus case numbers have plateaued at around 1,000 active in the state, although some county health officials are warning variants could lead to resurgence.
Just over 21 percent of the state’s more than a million people are fully vaccinated.
Gianforte, who is 59 years old, received his first Pfizer vaccine dose last week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people are not fully protected until two weeks after their second shot.
