Dane Co. Executive Joe Parisi tests positive for COVID-19

May 20, 2022 9:54 AM

Jaymes Langrehr,

Posted: May 20, 2022 9:54 AM

Updated: May 20, 2022 12:51 PM

by Jaymes Langrehr

MADISON, Wis. — Dane County Executive Joe Parisi’s office says he has tested positive for COVID-19, hours before he was scheduled to attend a press conference updating the status of the virus in the county.

In a statement released Friday morning, Parisi said is feeling fine after testing positive and is only experiencing minor symptoms.

Good morning. Well, I just tested positive for COVID. Doing fine with just minor symptoms. Fortunately I'm vaccinated & boosted. Case levels are elevated, so be safe out there!

— Joe Parisi (@DaneCoJoe) May 20, 2022

“Fortunately, I am vaccinated and boosted. Case levels are elevated, so I encourage everyone to be safe,” Parisi said in his statement.

Parisi was scheduled to appear virtually with Public Health Madison & Dane County director Janel Heinrich and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway Friday afternoon for a press conference on the COVID-19 situation in the community.

The latest data from PHMDC showed an increase of 541 new cases in Dane County on Thursday, with the number of cases increasing by 4.6 percent in the last two weeks. Despite that, the number of hospitalizations and deaths remains low.

Dane County is still currently at a “Medium” level of COVID-19 spread, according to the CDC, but the number of counties across the state increasing to “High” levels has gone up in recent weeks, with Milwaukee County joining the list Friday, triggering a mask advisory there.

The CDC recommends everyone in counties at the “High” level wear masks indoors, but counties at the “Medium” level only carry that recommendation for people who are considered high-risk for severe COVID complications.