Denver Mayor Michael Hancock flies to Mississippi to spend the holiday with his daughter and wife, according to his office.
In a statement to CNN, Hancock spokesman Mike Strott said Hancock was traveling alone to “his wife and daughter, where three of them will be celebrating Thanksgiving at their place of residence instead of traveling back to Denver.”
He said Hancock “after his return to Denver,“ adheres to all the necessary health and safety instructions and quarantine. ”Strott also said Hancock said earlier that he did not host his traditional large family dinner this year.
According to the latest data from the city’s health department, a total of 33,971 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in Denver since the start of the pandemic.
Hancock is not the only local leader who does not heed their own advice.
Earlier this month, California Governor Gavin Newsom received feedback after his wife and a dozen others attended the French Laundry restaurant with a dozen people from several different households despite state health guidelines recommending such gatherings amid an outbreak of Covid-19 infections.
Newsom apologized for his presence, acknowledging that he had to practice what he advertised.
“I made a bad mistake,” Newsom said. “Instead of sitting down, I should have stood up, walked back to my car, and gone home.”
The governor had previously warned New Yorkers who plan to hold Thanksgiving in the usual way that this is dangerous, given that the virus could spread to large indoor gatherings.
CNN’s Cheri Mossburg and Anna Sturla contributed to this report.
