COVID-19: Mayor tests positive, credits vaccinations for mild symptoms

Benjamin Pounds, Oakridger
·1 min read
Gooch
Gooch

Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch is back at work and recovering from COVID-19, which he discovered he had the day after last week's Oak Ridge City Council work session.

Speaking to the newspaper on Tuesday, he said he had only minor symptoms — like "just a cold.

“It was like a tickle in my throat, a little cough, a little nasal congestion,” Gooch said, adding there was “no fever.”

Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch is interviewed at The Oak Ridger's office last year.
Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch is interviewed at The Oak Ridger's office last year.

“Those were my only symptoms," the mayor said.

“I was basically symptom free on Tuesday afternoon, the 18th, when we had the work session,” he said. During the work session, he wore a mask as he usually does at meetings.

“I would not have gone to the meeting on the 18th if I had any kind of unusual symptoms. I was basically symptom free by then," he said.

But Gooch said did an at home test Jan. 19 "just to make sure."

He tested positive, as did his wife, Judy. He said his wife's symptoms are “fully resolved” and she’s “back to normal.”

Gooch said he contacted people who had been at the work session and told them he'd tested positive. Those people included the members of City Council, City Manager Mark Watson, Oak Ridge Police Chief Robin Smith and Oak Ridge Fire Chief Travis Solomon.

Gooch said he is fully vaccinated, having taken the two shots and a booster shot. He credited being “fully vaccinated and having the booster for having very, very mild symptoms.”

Ben Pounds is a staff reporter for The Oak Ridger. Call him at (865) 441-2317, follow him on Twitter @Bpoundsjournal and email him at bpounds@oakridger.com.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: COVID-19: Mayor tests positive, credits vaccinations for mild symptoms