Atlanta’s fire chief has opted to self-quarantine pending the results of a COVID-19 test, one day after the city’s mayor announced that she tested positive for the virus.
Randall Slaughter is being tested for the coronavirus "out of an abundance of caution," Atlanta Fire and Rescue spokesman Sgt. Cortez Stafford confirmed to AJC.com on Tuesday.
“He will also be in quarantine until his results return and will move forward based on those results,” Stafford said.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on Monday announced that she tested positive for the virus.
“COVID-19 has literally hit home,” Bottoms wrote. “I have had NO symptoms and have tested positive.”
On Sunday, Bottoms hosted a news conference alongside police officials, three Atlanta City Council members, media and family members of 8-year-old shooting victim Secoriea Turner. Slaughter was among those in attendance.
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Bottoms wore a mask but removed it to make lengthy remarks about Turner's death, which occurred Saturday near the Wendy's that has been occupied by armed demonstrators in the aftermath of Rayshard Brooks' police killing last month.
Bottoms told MSNBC on Monday that she got tested because her husband had been sleeping a lot since Thursday.
“Which is just not like him,” she said.
Bottoms said she and her family had been diligent about washing their hands and wearing masks.
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“I have no idea when and where we were exposed,” she said.
The fire department said Slaughter “wishes a full recovery of Mayor Bottoms and for sustained health of her family.”
Stafford said this will be Slaughter’s second time being tested for the virus.
“As of approximately two to three weeks ago, all of our members were required to get tested for COVID 19,” he said. “As first responders and EMTs, we have a responsibility to respond and to act. Proper PPE (personal protective equipment) practices and precautions are and have been taken since this pandemic broke to minimize the risk to the public and to our firefighters.”
A spokesman for the mayor said others who attended the news conference were encouraged to be tested for the virus.
It is not clear if others intend to go into quarantine. We have reached out to the Atlanta Police Department and Atlanta city officials to learn more.
— Please return to AJC.com for updates.
Credit: AJC
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