After exhibiting mild symptoms on Sunday and out of an abundance of caution, Governor Greg Gianforte on Monday was tested for COVID-19 and received a positive result. The first lady, who has exhibited no symptoms, has been tested and is awaiting her results.
Following his doctor's instructions and public health guidance, the governor is isolating for 10 days, according to a news release from Gianforte's office. The governor has notified all individuals with whom he may have had close contact.
All of the governor's in-person events have been canceled until further notice, and the governor will continue to conduct his duties and manage the state's business from his home in Bozeman. As a precautionary measure, the governor's staff will be tested early Tuesday morning. The governor and his staff have been tested regularly since he was sworn into office in January.
Gianforte received the first dose of the two-dose vaccine last Thursday at a Walgreens pharmacy in Helena.
Information from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention website:
Can a COVID-19 vaccine make me sick with COVID-19? No. None of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines or COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the United States contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.
There are several different types of vaccines in development. All of them teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Sometimes this process can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. Learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work.
It typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity (protection against the virus that causes COVID-19) after vaccination. That means it’s possible a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and still get sick. This is because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection.
Information from the Mayo Clinic website:
Can a COVID-19 vaccine give you COVID-19? No. The COVID-19 vaccines currently being developed in the U.S. don't use the live virus that causes COVID-19. Keep in mind that it will take a few weeks for your body to build immunity after getting a COVID-19 vaccination. As a result, it's possible that you could become infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or after being vaccinated.
