Atlanta Mayor-elect Andre Dickens tests positive for coronavirus

Mayor-Elect Dickens said he is fully vaccinated and is uncertain where or when he was exposed. He urged anyone who has come into contact with him during the past week to get tested and to quarantine until they’ve received a negative test result.

Dickens’ positive test comes after he attended the UNCF’s Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis on Saturday.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms attended the event as well. She also held a media roundtable with a dozen reporters Monday morning.

At the roundtable, Bottoms reiterated the need for residents to continue getting tested and vaccinated as COVID numbers increase due to the emergence of the omicron variant.

Dr. Carlos del Rio, a distinguished professor of infectious diseases at Emory University, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday night that the omicron variant is spreading quickly.

“This is really, really concerning,” del Rio said. “I think if you’re vaccinated and boosted, you may get infected but you’re hopefully going to do OK. You’re not going to get sick, you’re not going to end up in the hospital. But if you aren’t vaccinated, this thing is going to find you. This is really very infectious.”

Bottoms lifted the city’s mask mandate last month, but she said Monday morning that they are considering the resumption of the mandate based on the latest COVID numbers.

“We will have new numbers from the state and that will help us determine whether or not we need to reinstate the citywide mandate. As of now, there is still a requirement in all of our city-controlled buildings and properties that you wear masks,” Bottoms said Monday morning.

Bottoms, who contracted COVID last year, said this morning that she’s received her booster shot.

A Bottoms spokesman said the mayor has been tested and the results were negative.