Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Tests Positive For COVID-19
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has tested positive for COVID-19.
Andrew Harnik, File / Associated Press
Updated Tuesday at 8:23 a.m.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced via Twitter Monday that she’s tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
The mayor said she has experienced no symptoms.
“It leaves me for a loss for words because I think it really speaks to how contagious this virus is,” Bottoms told MSNBC Monday night. “We’ve taken all of the precautions that you can possibly take. We wear masks, we’re very thoughtful about washing our hands, I have no idea when and where we were exposed.”
COVID-19 has literally hit home. I have had NO symptoms and have tested positive.
— Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) July 6, 2020
The state has seen cases spike over the last two weeks, hitting record numbers of new cases for several days. Hospitalizations have also been rising faster than they were weeks ago, with nearly 2,000 COVID-19 patients in Georgia’s hospitals Monday.
The increase in hospitalizations continued even though the number of new test results predictably slackened over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Local and state officials say they expect a crush of new people getting tested this week, though.
The rate of deaths has remained steady, even as the rates of confirmed cases and hospitalizations have increased. More than 2,800 people have died of COVID-19 in Georgia.
Georgia’s hospitals have shown signs of strain. On Monday, 78% of critical care beds statewide were in use, matching the largest share filled with patients since officials began releasing statistics in mid-April. However, not all of those beds are filled with COVID-19 patients.
Bottoms is among several women named as potential running mates for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
She also is among several high-profile people to announce they have tested positive. In Georgia, that includes state Sen. Nikema Williams, who received her diagnosis just as the state was closing schools and businesses due to the pandemic.
State Sen. Brandon Beach, of Alpharetta, also announced positive test results in March, which led to all Georgia lawmakers being urged to self-isolate after he was present at a special legislative session after he developed symptoms.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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