Keisha Lance Bottoms, the mayor of Atlanta, announced on Monday afternoon that she tested positive for COVID-19. She said on Twitter that she has had no symptoms and that the virus had “literally hit home.” White House official defended President Donald Trump’s claim that 99% of coronavirus cases are “totally harmless” as new U.S. infections surge by the day.
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Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Tests Positive For COVID-19
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said “If you’re over 80 years of age or if you have three what they call co-morbidities – diabetes, hypertension, heart issues – then you need to be very, very careful,” In recent weeks she has been in the spotlight as a result of the widespread protests over police brutality, racial discrimination, and the killing of Rashard Brooks, a Black man who was shot and killed by an Atlanta police officer in a Wendy’s parking lot.
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia is among many states who are facing a surge in coronavirus cases. As of Monday, there have been over 97,000 reported cases and over 2,800 deaths.
Bottoms said on MSNBC, “This is startling for me because we’ve been so very careful,” “But this is just a lesson to everyone that you have to take every single symptom seriously.”
She also joins the list of U.S. elected officials who have tested positive for the virus, including Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul. To date, the most prominent world leader to test positive has been British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who spent three days in the ICU of a London hospital.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottom has made several national TV appearances amid the countrywide protest movement demanding racial equality and justice, and her name has been mentioned as a vice-presidential candidate for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Along with Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, and Val Demings Mayor Keisha Lance Bottom is considered a top prospect to be Joe Biden’s running mate in the 2020 election.
The U.S. has seen almost 2.9 million confirmed cases and more than 130,000 deaths, according to John Hopkins University data. Globally, there have been 11.5 million cases and more than 535,000 deaths.
Some of the recent developments:
- The University of Washington announced Sunday that at least 112 fraternity students tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the total up to 121.
- Airbnb added new booking restrictions for renters under the age of 25 to prevent house parties as cases multiply across the country.
- Economists estimate a slow recovery despite a record of 4.8 million jobs added to the economy in June.