Updated 3:23 p.m.
Marlon Reis, the partner of Gov. Jared Polis, was discharged from a local hospital on Tuesday morning after treatment for COVID-19.
Reis and Polis announced that they had tested positive for the illness on Nov. 28 and went into isolation. Reis was admitted to a hospital on Dec. 6 with shortness of breath and a worsening cough.
Two days later, Polis drove Reis home from UCHealth’s facilities at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
“I am so thankful to the doctors, nurses, and staff and for the support and well wishes we have received from friends, neighbors, and Coloradans during this time,” Reis said in a statement from the governor’s office.
“I hold everyone who has been affected by this deadly virus in my heart. Jared and I continue to encourage our fellow Coloradans to remain vigilant, wear masks, stay six feet apart, avoid gatherings, and wash your hands regularly.”
Reis, 39, did not require supplemental oxygen, but he did receive treatments of dexamethasone and remdesivir, the governor’s office said on Monday. Doctors have advised him to continue steroidal treatment for two more days.
Remdesivir is an antiviral medication that is used to slow replication of the virus, and it's most effective in the early stages, according to Dr. Ken Lyn-Kew, a pulmonologist at National Jewish Health. (Lyn-Kew was not involved in Reis' treatment and was speaking generally.) The medication is now "fairly available" at hospitals but must be given intravenously.
Dexamethesone is a steroid that is given to most hospitalized COVID-19 patients, Lyn-Kew said. Its efficacy is "a little unclear," especially for patients who were not intubated, but its use could be justified depending on various factors.
Lyn-Kew said that Reis might have been hospitalized as "he was hitting his nadir," or the worst of his symptoms, and apparently was able to recover relatively quickly with the medical intervention. "And fortunately for him, it was not too bad," he said.
Polis, 45, had no remaining symptoms on Monday night, his office said.
A Facebook account belonging to Reis has continued posting images of animals and Reis' usual messages of "Goodnight, Friends!" and "Good Morning, Friends!"
The governor shared his own message on the account, too: "Marlon wanted me to convey how much he appreciates the hundreds of people who have reached out to wish him well on email, Facebook, and text. Reading the kind words and thoughts brings great joy to him as he recuperates. He also wanted me to share that he hopes to be well enough to reply in a few days but for now he wants me to thank everyone and let everyone know that he feels the love."
