GOP Senate majority leader had COVID-19 over Christmas

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) tested positive for COVID-19 last month, the Advance has confirmed. He was on hand for the first day of the new legislative term Wednesday.

“For your information, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey tested positive for COVID-19 on December 23, 2020. Sen. Shirkey believes his exposure date to be December 19th. He had not been in Lansing since December 18th, prior to testing positive for the virus,” spokeswoman Amber McCann said in an email to reporters Wednesday afternoon. “Sen. Shirkey experienced a fever and was fatigued. He quarantined and recovered at home. Sen. Shirkey reported his positive test result to the Senate Business Office in accordance with Senate policy.”

However, Shirkey was last in the Legislature on Dec. 21 when the House voted on COVID-19 relief and did not always wear a mask.

After several news outlets reported that, McCann issued an updated statement: “Sen. Shirkey mistakenly reported his last day in Lansing as December 18th when it was in fact, December 21, 2020.

Read more: https://www.michiganadvance.com/2021/01/13/new-gop-senate-majority-leader-had-covid-19-over-christmas/