‘It was a shock.’ Fresno County Supervisor Steve Brandau tests positive for coronavirus
Fresno County Supervisor Steve Brandau has tested positive for coronavirus, the county announced Friday morning.
Brandau is following doctor’s orders to self-quarantine for 10 days and county health officials are tracing everyone who came in contact with him.
The county has closed the offices of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, Clerk of the Board and Administrative Office temporarily.
Brandau, in a phone interview with The Bee on Friday morning, said he first felt symptoms —a mild scratch in his throat — on Tuesday and recalled asking a staff member for a cough drop. He attended the board of supervisors meeting that day and went to an election watch party Tuesday night.
By Wednesday, he had developed a sore throat and slight cough. He canceled a few meetings and switched another to Zoom. He got tested on Thursday afternoon at the request of co-workers.
A quick test came back positive in 30 minutes. The results of a second test came back on Friday.
“It was a shock,” Brandau said.
He is isolating at home and said he is experiencing only mild symptoms. He plans to continue to work remotely: “I’ve got all the stuff I need.”
Political stance on coronavirus
Brandau said his messaging on the coronavirus has changed since the start of the pandemic in March. He started wearing a mask when required after it was mandated by Gov. Gavin Newsom and said people should be social distancing, hand washing and disinfecting — preventive steps he calls “low-hanging fruit.”
Still, the virus “is going to do whatever it does,” despite the best guesses of officials and politicians, he said.
“I don’t know much about COVID, but I haven’t seen many people that do.”
To that regard, Brandau included national figures Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and President Donald Trump, who was hospitalized last month with COVID-19.
“I feel like they were all wrong,” Brandau said. “Fauci was wrong. Trump was wrong.”
Fresno County takes measures to prevent spread
County spokesman Jordan Scott told The Bee on Thursday evening about 30 employees were instructed to work from home for the next 14 days after receiving a report of a positive case of COVID-19 among those who work on the third floor in the County Hall of Records.
The supervisors have been meeting in person throughout the pandemic, which reached the Fresno area in early March. The exception is Supervisor Sal Quintero, who has attended the meetings via teleconference. Supervisors have not worn masks during board meetings.
Scott said employees have their temperatures checked and are asked a few questions pertaining to COVID-19 before they’ve been allowed to enter the building.
In a statement Friday, Fresno County Administrative Officer Jean Rousseau said the county “took quick and appropriate action per our safety protocols to close our offices and send staff home to protect against any potential spread of the virus.
“We believe the risk to be minimal thanks to health and temperature screenings and mask requirements that are in place, however our top priority is always to protect the health and safety of our staff and those whom we serve and these actions are the right thing to do.”
Exposure reaches Fresno City Hall
Several officials and staff at the city of Fresno are also in self-isolation and are being testing after at least one had contact with Brandau this week.
Council President Miguel Arias said Friday that anyone who attended Thursday’s city council meeting is being asked to get a COVID-19 test before returning to work, in an abundance of precaution.
The city observes significant precautions at council meetings, including the use of plastic partitions, the wearing of masks, distancing and frequent sanitizing. The chamber also has a capacity limit of no more than 17 people, including members of the public.
It was full at several points during Thursdays meeting, Arias said.
Those who attended the meeting are asked to take similar precautions and should seek testing, which can be done at one of the city’s free testing sites.
The council is scheduled to meet again Nov. 19.
That may happen remotely, but that decision won’t be made until the council determines there has been no spread, Arias said.
This story was originally published November 6, 2020 at 9:20 AM.
