Gov. Wolf has never been tested for COVID-19 — he and Dr. Rachel Levine relying mostly on social distancing

Pennlive ^ | 7 August A.D. 2020 | David Wenner

[lightman]

Gov. Tom Wolf said this week he’s never been tested for COVID-19.

He said so in an offhand remark at a news briefing for reporters and didn’t elaborate.

That’s much different than the level of testing for officials such as President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who reportedly are tested daily and sometimes multiple times per day. Their staffers are also tested daily, and people who meet with Trump and Pence are tested in advance.

“The Wolf Administration is following the same guidance that we offer to Pennsylvanians on a regular basis. If you are sick, and feel like you need to be tested, you should get tested,” state health department spokesman Nate Wardle said.

Wardle said Dr. Rachel Levine, the state secretary of health, was tested once “out of an abundance of caution,” with the result coming back negative.

Wolf’s acknowledgment that he’s never been tested came during a discussion of a Walmart drive-up testing site where people are asked to insert a long swab into their own nose, with the procedure intended prevent spread of COVID to the attendant. Wolf noted that given the length of the swab and how far it must be inserted, he would feel better doing it himself.

Wardle was asked why someone in a critical leadership role such as Wolf or Levine wouldn’t be tested frequently.

“The teams surrounding the Governor and the Secretary are following the same recommendations that are relayed to [everyone else]. Wear a mask, maintain social distancing and wash your hands,” he said. “Those individuals who may need to get tested have been tested, but we are not conducting routine testing for individuals who do not have symptoms.”

Wardle noted everyone who centers the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency headquarters is electronically screened for fever and high touch surfaces there are frequently disinfected. The PEMA headquarters is the base of operations for Wolf and Levine when they’re not teleworking, Wardle said.

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[dfwgator]

Somehow I don’t think Levine should have a problem with Social Distancing.

[alstewartfan]

Child psychologist, you know!

[Buckeye McFrog]

I really cannot believe how truly awful Wolf and Levine have been responding to this pandemic. Any halfway competent public official would have, by now, tightened up their game, but we’re going into month six of a reaction that has been consistently opaque, ill timed, authpritarian, defiant, unprepared, and petty. At some point the Dems running for election in the fall are going to wise up and see that they’re going down for the governor’s behavior.

Unfortunately the GOP in this state is famously incompetent. Though I have some hope of that starting to change with guys like Doug Mastriano and Russ Diamond.

[Carriage Hill]

Good way to get a deviated septum, if you don’t already have one. No thanks; I’ll pass on it.

[Carriage Hill]

Stay upwind!

[mewzilla]

Of course he won’t get tesred.

He doesn’t want to have to quarantine in the event he’s positive.

But I’ll bet he’s on Trump pills.

Someone should ask him about that.

[P.O.E.]

That would be 10-foot-pole material.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

#22: "Child psychologist, you know!"

Subjecting any child to the care of that "thing" amounts to child abuse. And I say that without any hyperbole.
 

[PA Engineer]

TT can easily social distance. Even mosquitoes won’t come near.

[Mom MD]

True. I cant imagine wanting to get within 6 feet of either one

[Vinnie]

Six feet wouldn’t be enough for me to be away from the Dr Rachel Levine. A ten foot pole at least.
I’ve seen some ugly trannie pics but he/she/it is the winner.