MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – De Pere State Sen. Andre Jacque is tired, but in good spirits after testing positive for COVID-19, according to his communications director.
The Republican says he tested positive for COVID-19 last week after returning from Madison.
Last Wednesday, Jacque was there testifying in front of a packed committee hearing without a mask.
In a statement emailed to FOX 11, Jacque says, “At the time I tested positive, I was largely asymptomatic with the exception of fatigue, which I had been feeling more of since the baby arrived. Fatigue has been a long-standing health concern of mine but otherwise I had good health readings when I tested positive.”
Jacque went on to say he is now at the hospital with pneumonia, which he’s had before.
“We were supposed to travel together to Toledo this past week,” said State Rep. Elijah Behnke, R-Oconto. “We canceled plans as soon as we knew he had a positive test.”
Behnke rallied in Green Bay Tuesday with others who are against vaccine mandates, a belief Jacque has supported throughout the pandemic.
Behnke tells FOX 11 he was also in the same hearing as Jacque last week.
“If anybody was socially distanced, it was Andre. He was in the center of the room, everybody listened to him and when he was done talking, he left.”
“It’s frustrating,” said State Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, who was also at the hearing. “It’s frustrating because we’ve been trying to protect our neighbors and these folks aren’t even willing to protect themselves.”
Larson says Jacque and others who were without masks are selfish.
Larson is also upset he started hearing rumors last Friday of Jacque’s positive test, but couldn’t get anything confirmed until it was in the media.
“It would be really helpful for the state of Wisconsin if we had a willing partner in the other party in trying to combat this virus in both this instance and overall.”
“Even if Senator Larson wasn’t communicated with directly, he is just making excuses,” said Behnke. “He knew from some staffer that let his staff know that he was in a room with someone that eventually tested positive for COVID.”
Jacque says his office has been following all protocols and he personally reached out to the limited close contacts from last week in case he was positive at the time.
FOX 11 asked Jacque’s office if he has been vaccinated against COVID-19, but his communications director did not provide an answer.
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