What to Know
- Miami Mayor Francis Suarez told NBC 6 Friday that he has tested positive for the new coronavirus
- Suarez had announced Thursday that he would be in self-quarantine after it was learned he may have been in contact with the communications director for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who tested positive
- Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez tested negative for COVID-19, his office said earlier Friday
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez confirmed Friday that he has tested positive for the new coronavirus.
Suarez, 42, said in a statement that he was not feeling any symptoms and advised anyone who shook hands with him or was close to him since Monday to self-isolate for 14 days.
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"I feel completely healthy and strong, however I am doing the responsible thing by working with the county's health department to take every precaution to ensure that not only is my family healthy, but everyone that I come into contact with is healthy as well," Suarez said in a recorded statement Friday.
NBC 6 has also learned that Miami commissioners, their staff, and city hall staff have been advised to self-isolate if they came in contact with Suarez. City hall was also decontaminated Thursday night, a source said.
The mayor had announced Thursday that he would be in self-quarantine after it was learned he may have been in contact with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's communications director, who tested positive for the new coronavirus after traveling to South Florida.
Commissioners Ken Russell, Joe Carollo and Manolo Reyes said they would be self-isolating following Suarez's announcement. Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina said he would also be in self-isolation, along with the entire Miami Police Department motorcycle patrol unit, who were part of the escort team for Bolsonaro.
In his video, Suarez said he would work remotely while in isolation.
"If we did not shake hands, or you did not come into contact with me while I coughed or sneezed, there is no action you need to take whatsoever," Suarez said. "If we did however touch or shake hands, 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."
The Florida Department of Health announced early Friday morning that the second positive coronavirus case in Miami-Dade was a 42-year-old man.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez tested negative for COVID-19, his office said earlier Friday. Gimenez had been in self-isolation since Thursday and was working from home Friday, attending meetings with staff members on Skype.
The communications director, Fábio Wajngarten, had traveled with Bolsonaro on a three-day U.S. trip and attended a meeting with President Donald Trump at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. A statement from the president’s communications office on Thursday said Wajngarten's test results came back positive.
Bolsonaro tested negative for the new coronavirus, according to a post Friday on his official Facebook profile. Bolsonaro, 64, received the test on Thursday after his communications director was confirmed to have the virus.
Florida Sen. Rick Scott announced Thursday that he would also be in self-quarantine after potentially coming in contact with Wajngarten.
