CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Senate Majority Leader Tom Takubo says he is not sure where he contracted COVID-19.
Takubo, R-Kanawha, appeared on Tuesday’s MetroNews ‘Talkline’ and said that it’s good news that his family members have tested negative for the virus but does raises questions as to where he got it to test positive over the weekend.
“I’ve been extremely careful and tried to take precautions. My family is all negative so I am not sure how I got it,” he said.
Takubo, the co-owner and founder of Pulmonary Associates Of Charleston, said he and his colleagues have taken care of 85% of the critical COVID-19 cases in the Charleston area. He said he may have contracted it at work but said he has taken every precaution there.
According to him, symptoms began last week with aches on Thursday. Other symptoms for Takubo included a high temperature, weakness and decreased appetite.
“By Thursday evening, the aches were something viral. I was hoping it was an early fall seasonal virus. I canceled my office on Friday, went to get tested to make sure and sure enough I was positive,” he said.
Senator @DrTomTakubo, Republican, Kanawha, talks with @HoppyKercheval about recovering from Covid-19. WATCH: https://t.co/wkudfIRZCB pic.twitter.com/Hm0VXUGfKk
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) September 22, 2020
Takubo noted he is in the minority of those who have contracted the virus and have expressed symptoms. He said around 60% of those who have tested positive in the state are asymptomatic.
The state senator believes the majority of West Virginians will contract COVID-19 at some point.
“West Virginia is getting hit hard now because we didn’t get hit hard several months ago. I think overall West Virginia did a great job of keeping everybody at bay by keeping distance and closing down. But all that does is leave us vulnerable for now,” he said.
Takubo added he is taking Decadron, a steroid, to recover from the virus.
He was elected to the Senate in 2014, was re-elected in 2018 and became the majority leader that year. Takubo is the second West Virginia legislator to publicly acknowledge a case of coronavirus.