Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, Allegheny Co. Executive Rich Fitzgerald test positive for covid

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald tested positive for covid-19 Thursday, officials announced Friday.

Gainey is experiencing only minor symptoms and is in isolation at home, his office said in a news release Friday morning. He will continue working from home while following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Allegheny County Health Department.

Gainey is fully vaccinated, and received a booster dose of the covid-19 vaccine.

“I’m thankful for the protection provided by the vaccine and boosters and I hope my diagnosis can serve as a reminder to all of us to remain vigilant in the face of the ongoing pandemic,” Gainey said.

The mayor had a false positive covid-19 test in December. Gainey at the time said he had previously tested negative after other exposures.

Fitzgerald said he was notified late Thursday night that he had been exposed to an individual who tested positive or the virus. He took a rapid test, which came back positive.

“I am not experiencing any symptoms and am feeling fine,” Fitzgerald said. “I have notified those I’ve been in close contact with, as well as the officials at UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh overseeing the vaccine trial I’ve been participating in. I will receive additional testing as part of the trial protocol, and I will follow CDC guidelines for isolation and returning to the office.”

Fitzgerald said he was grateful for the vaccine and urged people who have not yet done so to get vaccinated.