Mayor Greg Fischer tests negative, returns to Louisville after COVID quarantine in Israel

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer is back in the city and is set to get back to business come Monday after a brief bout overseas with the coronavirus.

Fischer, who tested positive and was forced to quarantine last Sunday while in Israel for a conference, has tested negative and has returned to Louisville, his office announced Saturday morning. He's set to resume his public schedule Monday.

Fischer "plans to receive his second booster shot and encourages all residents who are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccines and boosters because his experience shows they work," the statement from his office added. The mayor experienced mild symptoms, which he'd attributed last week to having previously received two vaccine shots and a booster.

He encouraged Louisville residents interested in COVID-19 vaccinations to visit the city's online coronavirus resource center louisvilleky.gov/covid19.

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Fischer "thanks the community for their kind words of support and for lifting up Give A Day events while he worked remotely," the statement from his office added.

Louisville's three-term mayor, who is set to leave office following November's election, had been in Israel to take part in a program from the American Jewish Committee for mayors. He planned to work remote last week while following the country's quarantine guidelines, his office said.

Coronavirus cases in Louisville and across the state have dropped in recent weeks. The positivity rate in Jefferson County sat at 2.75% on Friday, according to figures from the state.

Lucas Aulbach can be reached at laulbach@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4649 or on Twitter @LucasAulbach.