Sen. Mark Mullet (D-Issaquah), chair of the Senate Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee, will work the initial days of the 2022 legislative session from home after testing positive for COVID-19.
“If I had to get it, this is probably the best time of year to get it,” Mullet said. “As the owner of a restaurant, which is a business where you can’t miss work, I was lucky not to catch the virus when I had to be available to manage my restaurant.”
Mullet adjusts the staffing at his two small businesses to cover for his absence for the duration of each legislative session, so he will not be needed in his restaurant for the next few months. And since the Legislature is set up to conduct its work remotely, the virus won’t disrupt his ability to perform his duties as a state lawmaker.
“After my wife got COVID last Tuesday, I’ve gotten tested to make sure it’s been safe for me to take care of our kids,” Mullet said. “As recently as Saturday night I tested negative, but after my positive test in Olympia this morning I just got in my car and headed back home to prepare for a week of remote work.”
Mullet, who has received two vaccinations and a booster shot, said he was not suffering any symptoms and that his primary concern was to not expose anyone else to the virus.
“I think the immunizations really protect us from the brunt of the virus, which is key to keeping our hospital system from being overwhelmed,” he said. “If not for the immunizations, things could be a lot worse.”
