There’s still a pandemic going on. It might not seem like it, but there are people still catching COVID-19 and still having to self-isolate until they post a negative test result. Not a great position to find yourself in during a busy election campaign, but it’s the position that Green Party of Ontario leader and Guelph candidate Mike Schreiner finds himself in. For now, COVID has knocked Schreiner off the campaign trail.

“After close contact with a staff member, I tested positive for COVID-19 via rapid test this evening,” Schreiner said in a quick statement Wednesday night. “I’m fully vaccinated and am feeling fine. As public health advises, I will self-isolate for a few days and will continue campaigning remotely from home.”

The news comes after a very busy week for Schreiner on the campaign trail, a trail that leads from the leaders debate on Monday night in Toronto, to events here in Guelph, and two days of activities in the riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka including several in-person announcements with candidate Matt Richter and several local Green party supporters. On Wednesday afternoon, Schreiner was in Elora to receive the endorsement of Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation president Karen Littlewood.

Also on Wednesday afternoon, Schreiner took part in the candidate debate for the Guelph Chamber of Commerce, but that event was virtual. However, the housing debate hosted by the Guelph and District Association of Realtors on Monday morning was not virtual, it was held in-person at the Italian Canadian Club.

Schreiner’s campaign schedule for Thursday was rejiggered with a virtual announcement on protecting water with Wellington Halton–Hills candidate Ryan Kahro in lieu of a previously scheduled in-person event outside Rockwood. An appearance at rally with the Ontario Nurses’ Association in Toronto will see Green Party deputy leader Dianne Saxe take Schreiner’s place at the event.

Most importantly though, Schreiner’s appearance on Open Sources Guelph will proceed. Tune in at 5 pm on CFRU 93.3 fm or cfru.ca!

UPDATE, Thursday 10:09 am: Speaking of leaders, Andrea Horwath of the NDP announced Thursday morning that she’s tested positive for COVID-19 too.

“Andrea’s greatest strength is meeting people and connecting with them where they’re at. She listens, she cares, and it shows. We’re really disappointed that we’re going to lose that for a few days,” said a statement on the NDP website.

An NDP campaign event that was originally scheduled to happen in-person in Sault Ste. Marie on Thursday morning will happen in a virtual format instead. As of this writing in-person campaign events with PC leader Doug Ford and Liberal leader Steven Del Duca are proceeding as scheduled.