City Councillor Tests Positive For COVID-19

A Saint John city councillor is using his personal experience with COVID-19 as an opportunity to urge others to get vaccinated.

David Hickey, who represents Ward 3, said he tested positive for the virus Friday, despite being asymptomatic and fully vaccinated.

“That’s the only reason I’m safe right now is because I’m vaccinated, it’s the only reason I’m asymptomatic is because I’m vaccinated,” Hickey said during Monday’s council meeting, which was held virtually due to new COVID-19 measures.

Hickey said the only reason he got tested was because he was travelling to Prince Edward Island, where testing is mandatory to enter the province.

The councillor said he has always taken COVID-19 seriously, but it became “very real” for him “very quickly” after testing positive for the virus.

“I want to encourage folks who get vaccinated to also follow Public Health guidelines, such as wearing a mask, and certainly respect individuals who are administering those rules,” said Hickey.

Hickey said he is not aware of anyone else around him subsequently testing positive for COVID-19.

Mayor Donna Reardon said she appreciated Hickey sharing “such personal information about your health” with the public.

“It is important for people to understand that you can be asymptomatic, that you can still spread the virus, you can still have COVID-19,” said Reardon.

Reardon said the city manager and human resources offered rapid testing to anyone that had been in contact in City Hall over the last week or so.

Part of my comments at council: pic.twitter.com/ErDOyHLPcF

— David Hickey (@DavidHickeySJ) October 4, 2021