Months after his cancer diagnosis, BC Premier John Horgan is starting off the workweek announcing he has tested positive for COVID-19.
On Monday morning, Horgan said he’s now following public health guidance, isolating and working from home until his symptoms resolve.
“Fortunately, my symptoms are mild and that is thanks to being fully vaccinated,” Horgan wrote to Twitter.
His positive test result follows a recent trip to Vancouver, where he met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last Tuesday. “Sorry to hear, my friend. Get well soon!” wrote Trudeau, replying to Horgan’s tweet.
This morning I tested positive for COVID-19.
Fortunately, my symptoms are mild and that is thanks to being fully vaccinated.
I’m following public health guidance, isolating and working from home until my symptoms resolve.
— John Horgan (@jjhorgan) April 4, 2022
It was on November 4th when Horgan revealed he had throat cancer. Then in January, while thanking Victoria cancer clinic staff, he said he had completed 35 radiation sessions.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), cancer is considered an underlying medical condition and people with the disease are at a higher risk for more severe outcomes of COVID-19.
“And some cancer treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy, can weaken your immune system and make it harder for you to fight infections,” the CCS explains.
Given his immune-compromised status, Horgan said last month he’d continue to wear a face mask in public even though BC health officials repealed the mask requirement on March 11th.
On Friday, BC announced 357 new cases of COVID-19 across the province, including 52 in Island Health. At the time, a total of 274 people were in hospital with the virus, 35 of whom were in critical care—ICU or acute care units.
