Miami mayor tests positive for Coronavirus, live blogs on condition

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has tested positive for COVID-19 and is publicly keeping people up-to-date on his condition while self-quarantining.

Suarez tested positive for the disease that the novel coronavirus causes after attending a Miami event with a Brazilian government official who has since tested positive for the coronavirus, the Miami Herald reports. 

Suarez is now trying to reassure the public about his experience in dealing with the disease, South Florida TV station WLRN reports. He has been live blogging his experience daily since testing positive 

Suarez says his immediate family and everyone who has come into direct contact with him has tested negative for the virus, per WLRN.

“If we did not shake hands or you did not come into contact with me if I coughed or sneezed, there is no action you need to take whatsoever,” Suarez said, per the Miami Herald. “If we did, however, touch or shake, or if I sneezed or coughed near you since Monday, it is recommended that you self-isolate for 14 days, but you do not need to get tested. After speaking with medical personnel, I will continue to follow Department of Health protocol and remain isolated while I lead our government remotely.”

Present at the meeting with the Brazilian official were President Donald Trump, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez and U.S. Senator Rick Scott (Fla.), according to NBC Miami. Trump and Gimenez tested negative for the virus. Gimenez and Scott reported that they would be in self-quarantine.

*** American City & County will be covering local governments’ response to the coronavirus and COVID-19 outbreak extensively over the next several weeks. If your government is taking any actions to address the outbreak in your community, we would love to hear about it — email any details to AC&C Associate Editor Jason Axelrod a t[email protected].