Candidate for Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. tests positive for COVID-19
Jun 10, 2020, 9:18 AM | Updated: Jun 24, 2020, 3:36 pm
FILE - Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. answers a question during a meeting with the Deseret News and KSL editorial boards in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. (Ravell Call/ Deseret News)
(Ravell Call/ Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Gubernatorial candidate Jon Huntsman Jr. announced on Wednesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19.
“After a second try, test results came back positive for Covid-19. Have been experiencing classic symptoms..like so many others, my goal is to keep my family safe. Though isolated temporarily, we’ve never been more energized in this important race for Governor. The work goes on!” he wrote on Twitter.
After a second try, test results came back positive for Covid-19. Have been experiencing classic symptoms..like so many others, my goal is to keep my family safe. Though isolated temporarily, we’ve never been more energized in this important race for Governor. The work goes on!
— Jon Huntsman (@JonHuntsman) June 10, 2020
This information comes after Huntsman’s original COVID-19 test was thrown away by the state.
In tweets on Monday, Huntsman said that he received a call from the Salt Lake County Health Department called saying that they had given him the wrong results from a test he had taken a month ago.
We are all concerned about the rising numbers of #Covid19 cases in #Utah. Earlier today we had a fourth member of our campaign team test positive. I tested negative for the second time. Even though it is taking days to get testing results, our campaign is still moving forward. pic.twitter.com/sgT8Tt0tFR
— Jon Huntsman (@JonHuntsman) June 9, 2020
Huntsman’s family said they were upset at the oversight because they are all spending a lot of time together during the campaign season and that some members are in the high-risk category.
Related: Jon Huntsman COVID-19 test had errors, Huntsman retakes test
Huntsman, a former Utah governor as well as former U.S. Ambassador to China and Russia under Presidents Obama and Trump respectively, faces three other candidates in the Republican primary for governor later this month. The four options on the primary ballot are Huntsman; current Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, who is also heading up the state’s coronavirus task force; Thomas Wright, the former head of the Utah Republican Party; and Greg Hughes, the former speaker of the Utah House.
All four candidates are set to appear in a socially-distant debate on KSL NewsRadio on Thursday at 11 a.m., hosted by Deseret News Opinion Editor Boyd Matheson. There is no word yet whether Huntsman’s diagnosis will change his plans to appear.
The winner of the June 30 Republican primary will face the Democrats’ candidate for governor, University of Utah law professor Chris Peterson, in November.
This story is breaking and will be updated.
How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus
COVID-19 coronavirus spreads person to person, similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:
- Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
- Don’t touch your face.
- Keep children and those with compromised immune systems away from someone who is coughing or sneezing (in this instance, at least six feet)
- If there is an outbreak near you, practice social distancing (stay at home, instead of going to the movies, sports events, or other activities.)
- Get a flu shot.
Local resources
Utah’s Coronavirus Information
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Utah Coronavirus Information Line – 1-800-456-7707
National Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Commonly asked questions, World Health Organization
