Paul Vallone (Twitter)
April 2, 2020 By Allie Griffin
Two Queens council members are self-quarantining for the coronavirus, each announced yesterday on Twitter.
North Flushing Council Member Paul Vallone announced he has recently tested positive for COVID-19 after experiencing mild symptoms, while Astoria Council Member Costa Constantinides said he has been self-quarantined since Sunday night after running a fever.
Vallone said his underlying Sarcoidosis compounded his symptoms, but that they are manageable.
“My family and I remain at home and have been self-quarantining, resting and healing together,” Vallone said in a statement posted on Twitter. “I feel blessed to have had manageable symptoms and I am on the road to recovery.”
He added that his staff have been working from home and have had no direct contact with him since the start of March. His office remains open via phone for Northeast Queens constituents.
Constantinides said he has experienced minor symptoms after catching a fever Sunday night and was advised to stay home instead of going for a test to confirm he has COVID-19.
He spoke candidly about the toll the virus is taking in a statement on Twitter.
“I’m slowly getting better, but trust me this is not something you want,” he wrote. “Even for the healthy among us, it can wear you down. Sleep is incredibly difficult on top of it. You’re equally fearful and frustrated.”
Costa Constantinides (twitter)
He urged New Yorkers to stay home as much as possible.
“The nice weather will still be there at the other end of this,” Constantinides wrote.
“Because even if you think you’re being safe, it might not be enough,” he added. “We owe it to our first responders to be this vigilant. We all hear the ambulances all day and night. Let’s give them a break by staying home. ”
He also said that he is continuing to work remotely to make sure everyone has the help they needed right now.
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