The announcement came a day after Holcomb announced that Indiana would remain at Stage 5 of its “Back on Track” plan for coronavirus response. The governor also extended the state’s mask-wearing mandate through Nov. 14. The number of Indiana’s positive daily COVID-19 cases have been spiking this month.
Dr. Lindsay Weaver, chief medical officer for the Indiana State Department of Health, several members of the governor’s office, and several members of the state department of health were also tested out of an abundance of caution.
The governor, Dr. Weaver, and staff members received both an Abbott rapid test and a nasopharyngeal PCR test, and all had negative results on both.
According to Dr. Box and Dr. Weaver, the governor and staff members did not meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s definition of close contact as they were socially distanced and wore masks during their interactions with Dr. Box.
“Janet and I are wishing Dr. Box and her family a speedy recovery,” Gov. Holcomb said. “The coronavirus does not discriminate, and this further highlights the importance of wearing masks and social distancing.”
Dr. Box and Dr. Weaver have advised Gov. Holcomb that he can resume his normal schedule with vigilance about masking and social distancing.