S.I. City Council candidate says she tested positive for COVID after morning spent canvassing

Originally published at: https://www.silive.com/coronavirus/2021/03/si-city-council-candidate-says-she-tested-positive-for-covid-after-morning-spent-canvassing.html

By Paul Liotta | pliotta@siadvance.com

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A City Council candidate for the North Shore’s seat tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) Saturday after a morning spent canvassing.

Candidate Amoy Barnes, a staffer with the city Department of Education (DOE), said she tested positive in the afternoon, and that she was “still processing” the diagnosis before referring the Advance/SILive.com to representatives from the campaign. Barnes is running to replace City Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore).

Brittany Jones, a spokesperson for her campaign, confirmed the diagnosis, and said they were in the process of reaching out to people they’d been in contact with over the past few days.

As the Daily News first reported, Barnes’ diagnosis has raised concerns among other candidates who were in contact with her on Saturday, including the campaign of mayoral candidate Kathryn Garcia.

The two spoke outside the St. George Green Market around 11 a.m. as their teams tried to get enough ballot petition signatures so they can appear on the ballot in the June 22 primary.

Mayoral candidate Kathryn Garcia and Amoy Barnes, a candidate for the North Shore City Council seat, canvas outside the St. George Green Market on Saturday, March 6, 2021. (Staten Island Advance/Paul Liotta)

Due to the pandemic, state lawmakers have taken various steps to reduce the number signatures mayoral candidates need to get on the ballot, and have limited the time span in which those signatures can be collected.

Petitioning began March 2, and will need to be filed between March 22 and March 25, according to the state political calendar.

Barnes could be seen wearing two masks while she canvassed, and Jones said the campaign adheres to medical COVID guidance intended to reduce the virus’ spread. She also said that Barnes and campaign staff are frequently tested.

A representative for Garcia’s campaign said the candidate and staff were being tested Sunday after learning about Barnes’ diagnosis, but did not comment further.

The News first reported that Barnes’ diagnosis led to her not participating in an interview scheduled with the Manhattan-based Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club regarding their endorsement.

Allen Roskoff, the club’s president, told the Advance/SILive.com that Barnes said she wasn’t feeling up to the interview Saturday afternoon and that she had COVID.