Lt. Gov. Green experiences ‘serious fatigue’ after testing positive for COVID-19

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Lt. Gov. Josh Green said Monday that he experienced “pretty serious fatigue” over the weekend after testing positive for COVID-19 but is otherwise “feeling fine.”

Green spoke to Hawaii News Now from his Downtown apartment, where he is quarantining in one of his children’s bedrooms. He said while in isolation, he’s trying to stay upbeat — and catching up on Netflix.

“I watched a whole season of Cobra Kai,” Green quipped.

Green learned he was positive for COVID-19 on Friday night. He got tested after learning a member of his security detail had come down with the virus. Other members of his staff have also been tested.

The lieutenant governor stressed that no other high-level officials, including the governor, were exposed because they have been conducting meetings virtually.

He added that while in quarantine he intends to stay on the job as much as he’s able to.

Green said he believes he caught the virus on Saturday morning from the member of his security detail while they were in the same car together for more than an hour headed from Kona Airport to Hawi.

He said he had tested negative for the virus just three days earlier after taking a test as a precaution because he also continues to take shifts on the Big Island as an emergency room doctor.

“We were wearing masks in the car, except for perhaps when we were sipping coffee, right?” he said.

“But we were in the car ... and one of the gentleman was coughing some. He has a chronic cough and we didn’t make much of it. He was coughing into his mask.”

Green said the episode does illustrate how easy it is to pass COVID-19 to others in enclosed spaces.

“It does show you that if you have to be in a long car ride with somebody where you’re, of course, within 6 feet — that’s a high risk. And you want to avoid that if at all possible,” he said.

Interviewed by the Star-Advertiser on Monday, Gov. David Ige offered Green his well wishes and said he is grateful that Green’s symptoms so far appear to be mild.

This story will be updated.

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