SALT LAKE CITY — Senator Deidre Henderson, who is also the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, has announced she has tested positive for COVID-19.
In a post on Twitter, Sen. Henderson, R-Spanish Fork, disclosed her diagnosis. She previously had announced two members of her immediate family had tested positive and she had already begun quarantine procedures.
No big surprise, my COVID test came back positive. Stay safe out there, everyone. Wear your masks to protect others—by the time you have symptoms you’ve already been contagious for a couple of days and could have unknowingly infected other people. https://t.co/Z42sXJqBnr
— Deidre Henderson (@DeidreHenderson) August 8, 2020
In a lengthier public post on Facebook, Sen. Henderson said other members of her family contracted it and she urged people to wear face coverings to prevent the spread.
Sen. Henderson is the running mate of Lt. Governor Spencer Cox, the Republican nominee in the governor's race. She is also chair of the powerful Senate Education Committee in the Utah State Legislature.
She is the second member of the Utah State Senate to announce they tested positive for COVID-19. Senate Minority Whip Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, announced her positive diagnosis in March. Sen. Escamilla has since recovered.
Senate President J. Stuart Adams, R-Layton, announced he tested positive for COVID antibodies, but did not know when he would have contracted the virus.
In his own post on Twitter, Lt. Gov. Cox wished her a speedy recovery.
Prayers up for my dear friend Deidre and her family. We have not been together in the past week and always wear masks when we do meet, so there is no reason to believe I have been exposed. This virus is relentless. Please be safe. 🙏🏼❤️ https://t.co/c2bcEXcnTv
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) August 7, 2020