Brooklyn, NY – A staffer in Rep. Yvette D. Clarke’s Brooklyn office tested positive for COVID-19. After attending a personal event last week, where later it was learned one of the attendees had COVID-19, the asymptomatic staffer took a test out of precaution because of a vulnerable person in their household. The test took several days to come back and yielded a positive result. This staffer has been in self-quarantine, following orders from their physician and is still currently asymptomatic. 

Brooklyn staffers who were in contact with this other staffer have been practicing CDC guidance with social distancing and self-monitoring for symptoms at home. Congresswoman Clarke was not exposed to this staffer and does not have COVID-19. Staffers in both the Brooklyn and DC offices have already been tele-working this week out of precaution for staff, constituents and the community. 

Clarke said: “We are in unprecedented times with COVID-19 and learning the lengthy time it took for my staffer’s test results to come back is disconcerting. I care very deeply for each of my staffers because they help make the work for New York’s Ninth Congressional District possible. As we face uncertainty in these trying times, I am working tirelessly to make sure our community receives timely, adequate care. Now more than ever, as we are seeing first-hand with my office, it’s important we each do our part to self-quarantine if you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19. I thank our front line workers–from health care staff to grocery store workers–for coming to work during this time so the rest of us can stay home to help flatten the curve.”

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