Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon tests positive for COVID-19

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon has tested positive for COVID-19, his office said in a news release Tuesday evening.

Simon said he took a PCR test Saturday and has been quarantining in the days since.

"I feel fine, probably because I’m fully vaccinated and boosted," he wrote in a statement. "At this point, I will continue to quarantine for the full ten-day period recommended in state and federal guidelines. I’ll keep working during that time, as I’ve been doing so far this week."

Simon also said he encourages everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated.

"We know that vaccination makes the symptoms of this virus less severe and lets us protect our communities, especially the workers on the front lines of this pandemic."

At this point, all but one of Minnesota’s statewide elected officials have tested positive for COVID-19, the exception being State Auditor Julie Blaha.

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan contracted the virus in October, Gov. Tim Walz tested positive for COVID-19 in December, and Attorney General Keith Ellison tested positive last week while he was out of the country.