California lawmakers stay home after possible COVID exposure at going-away party

Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon did not attend Thursday’s legislative session at the Capitol after potentially being exposed to COVID-19 at a going away party earlier this week.

Rendon, a Lakewood Democrat, attended a goodbye party for outgoing Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, on Tuesday, his office confirmed. State Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, also attended the the party in Sacramento. The next morning, Becker announced he had tested positive for COVID-19 despite being vaccinated and boosted.

Now Rendon is staying home, and asking other lawmakers who attended the party to do the same.

Guidance from the California Department of Health does not require individuals who are vaccinated and boosted to isolate, said Rendon spokesperson Katie Talbot. The speaker stayed home from the Thursday session out of an “abundance of caution” and tested negative Thursday morning, Talbot said.

“While CDPH guidelines do not require isolation for vaccinated and boosted individuals following potential exposure, out of an abundance of caution, the Speaker asked Members who attended Tuesday’s event to stay home from session today,” Talbot said in a statement. “They will test again Monday morning before being admitted to floor session.”

In a statement, Becker said he was wearing an N95 mask and tested negative prior to the event.

“I’m glad I attended the event wearing an N95 mask and that I tested negative each day since Sunday,” Becker said. “I tested daily as a precaution with our return to session this week. In fact, on Tuesday I tested negative that morning and tested negative again, right before attending.”

Gonzalez on Thursday tweeted that she is home and has tested negative for COVID-19.

“I have no symptoms, am vaccinated, boosted & wore an N95 mask whenever I wasn’t eating or drinking,” she tweeted. “I will follow CDC guidelines & continue to test.”

News of the potential exposure comes as California cases continue to grow amid a surge caused by the omicron variant.

Sacramento County health officials on Thursday ordered that all public board meetings, council meetings and commission meetings be conducted virtually in light of extremely high transmission rates. The Legislature, which operates independently, has not said whether it will abide by that guideline.

This story was originally published January 6, 2022 at 11:50 AM.