Kamala Harris’s comms director and flight crew member test positive for coronavirus, prompting campaign to cancel all travel

The senator will begin campaigning again on Monday

One of Senator Kamala Harris’s top aides has tested positive for Covid-19, prompting the cancellation of the senator’s events until after the weekend.  

Ms Harris’s campaign manager, Jen O’Malley Dillon, released a statement on Thursday that identified the infected staffer as communications director Liz Allen. The campaign became aware that she tested positive on Wednesday.  

A non-staff flight crew member also tested positive.

The statement also said Ms Harris did not have close contact with Ms Allen or the flight crew member as defined by the US Centres For Disease Control and Prevention within two days of their positive tests, and thus was not required to enter quarantine.  

The campaign also said that none of the individuals who tested positive have had contact with Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.  

“After being with Senator Harris, both individuals attended personal, non-campaign events in the past week. Under our campaign’s strict health protocols, both individuals had to be tested before returning to their work with the campaign from these personal events. These protocols help protect the campaign, the staff, and anyone who they may have contact with,” the campaign wrote.  

The campaign said Ms Harris will return to a “robust and aggressive schedule of virtual campaign activities” on Monday 19 October.  

According to the campaign, both individuals were on a flight with Ms Harris on 8 October. During that flight, the senator wore an N95 mask, as did both of the infected individuals, and was not within 6 feet of them for more than 15 minutes, which would have constituted “close contact” under CDC definitions.  

Ms Harris’s most recent PCR test was on Wednesday (14 October).  

The campaign said it began the contact tracing process and that the lab it uses to administer coronavirus tests has reported its findings to law enforcement officials.  

The senator’s husband, Doug Emhoff, will also suspend his travel until Friday (16 October). Mr Emhoff has taken three PCR tests since 8 October and all have returned negative.  

The campaign expects Mr Emhoff to return to in-person campaigning on Friday.