Republican state senator who sought repeal of emergency law tests positive for coronavirus

LANSING — A Republican state senator who sponsored a bill to limit the emergency powers Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has used to address the pandemic has tested positive for COVID-19.

State Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, issued a statement Sunday that said he does not have "any significant symptoms," and "will be self-isolating according to medical guidelines."

Barrett has been a vocal critic of Whitmer's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and sponsored a bill to repeal the 1945 law Whitmer has used to maintain a state of emergency related to the coronavirus. The state of emergency allows Whitmer to issue emergency orders to restrict business operations and require the wearing of masks in public places.

Despite taking reasonable precautions, I was notified this afternoon that I tested positive during a routine screening on Friday, July 31," Barrett said in a news release.

Barrett, 39, who is married with three children, told the Free Press Sunday his testing positive does not change how he feels about the way Whitmer has handled the pandemic, nor should it.

"How we govern our state is not something that should change based on someone's unique circumstances, like mine," Barrett said.

He said he is opposed to "perpetuating a state of emergency that concentrates all political power under one person," that being the governor.

Whitmer has relied on the 1945 Emergency Powers of Governor Act after the Legislature declined her request in May to extend Michigan's state of emergency under the Emergency Management Act of 1976. A group called Unlock Michigan, which has ties to Republican activists and is supported by Barrett, is now collecting signatures to repeal the 1945 law.

Barrett, who is also a member of the Michigan Army National Guard, said he received a required screening prior to a scheduled training event.

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“I have done my best to make contact with those I have been around in the past couple weeks so that they may also seek medical advice," and “I look forward to resuming my normal work schedule as quickly as possible," he said.

Barrett said the only symptom he has noticed is feeling a little more fatigued than usual. He said he is self-isolating but said that since he had already been in contact with his wife and children when he tested positive, he is not sure how practical it is to self-isolate from them.

He said he has been "pretty rigid" about wearing a mask in enclosed public places, as required under a Whitmer emergency order. He said his mask-wearing record is not perfect, but he doubts anyone else's is, either.

Barrett said he did not want to speculate about how he may have contracted the virus.

Barrett is the first Michigan Republican lawmaker to test positive for COVID-19.

Two Detroit Democrats, state Representatives Tyrone Carter and Karen Whitsett, tested positive for COVID-19 early on in the pandemic and have recovered. State Rep. Isaac Robinson, D-Detroit, who died March 29, had not tested positive for the coronavirus, but his death was believed to be connected to contracting the virus.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, said the Senate has followed established procedure and informed senators and staff of the positive test result. The Senate Business Office provides all senators and staff with appropriate information for follow-up procedures, he said.

“Our immediate focus is on notification to all senators and staff. We will evaluate the need for changes to the legislative calendar in the coming days,” Shirkey said.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4. Read more on Michigan politics and sign up for our elections newsletter.