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COVID-19
Brian Bakst
St. Paul

Walz, Flanagan to quarantine after possible COVID exposure

A group of six people stand near a microphone at a vaccine event.
State officials told press who attended a Monday event with Gov. Tim Walz (center left) and other officials that a staffer at the Mall of America event had tested positive for COVID. Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm also spoke at the event.
Tim Nelson | MPR News

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Update: 2:50 p.m.

Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm will all go into quarantine through March 25 following a presumed exposure to COVID-19.

The three were in the same room during a press conference on Monday along with a staffer who later tested positive for COVID-19, the governor’s office said, adding that the top officials were not within 6 feet of the staffer for more than 15 minutes.

The last public event for Walz was a press conference Monday at the Mall of America. Minnesota U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, along with Reps. Betty McCollum and Angie Craig were also in attendance.

McCollum, Craig and Smith all released separate statements on Wednesday saying they will follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but had been fully vaccinated, were fully masked at the event, and would not be required to quarantine.

Walz, who has not been vaccinated, tested negative on Monday. Flanagan and Malcolm have received doses, but are not considered beyond the waiting period.

The development will lead to postponement of the State of the State address that Walz had planned for Sunday night in Mankato.

It’s the second time in a year that Walz has isolated out of caution.