First gentleman taken to hospital after COVID symptoms worsen

First Gentleman Marlon Reis was transported to the hospital by his partner, Gov. Jared Polis, after Reis experienced worsening symptoms of COVID-19, the governor’s office said in a statement Sunday evening.

Polis and Reis announced Nov. 28 they had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Reis “started to experience a slightly worsening cough and shortness of breath on day eight after being diagnosed with COVID,” the statement said. “The Governor drove the First Gentleman in his personal vehicle to the hospital.”

Polis was not experiencing worsening symptoms, the statement said.

Tonight First Gentleman Marlon Reis started experiencing slightly worsening cough and shortness of breath. I took him to the hospital for review and treatment. pic.twitter.com/EAH5Ew1AfO

— Governor Jared Polis (@GovofCO) December 7, 2020

On Monday evening the governor’s office released an update on Reis’ condition, saying he “has normal oxygen saturation, is in good spirits, and looks forward to returning home soon.”

The update said Reis has been treated with dexamethasone for inflammation and remdesivir. President Trump when he was infected with the coronavirus was treated with the steroid dexamethasone in October, and in that case some health experts voiced concern, according to the Washington Post. “The powerful steroid has shown promise for treating patients with severe covid-19 who are getting supplemental oxygen, as Trump was, but may cause harm for those with minor infections,” the Post reported. Remdesivir is an antiviral drug that was also part of Trump’s treatment.

Polis was not experiencing any symptoms, it said.

The governor’s office announced on Nov. 25 that he would quarantine after he was exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The announcement did not say when the exposure occurred or where. It did not identify the person who had tested positive.

On Dec. 1, Polis introduced a news briefing on COVID-19 by talking about his and Reis’ experience of the disease.

“I’m grateful to report that both of us continue to do well. Very mild symptoms,” he said. “This is just such a lottery when you get this thing. I saw that the single biggest hospitalized group is in our age range, 40-64. There’s more people hospitalized today in Colorado 40-64 than there are 65-plus.

He added, “About 4 percent of people my age who are perfectly healthy wind up in the hospital, so taking two of us, Marlon and I, household, we have about a 1 in 12 chance of one of us being hospitalized … Many will make it out of the hospital after a challenging recovery. Some won’t.”

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 5:35 p.m. Dec. 7 to include new information on Reis’ condition.