ARIZONA NEWS
Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb tests positive for coronavirus
PHOENIX — Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb announced Wednesday he had tested positive for the coronavirus.
Lamb, who was asyomptomatic, believes he was infected with COVID-19 while at a campaign event on Saturday, he said in a Facebook post.
He said he was diagnosed after receiving a call on Tuesday to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House and getting a screening for the coronavirus.
Lamb plans to self-quarantine for at least 14 days.
“Unfortunately, as a law enforcement official and elected leader, we do not have the luxury of staying home. This line of work is inherently dangerous, and that is a risk we take when we sign up for the job,” Lamb said.
“Today, that risk is the COVID-19 virus.”
He said the Pinal County Public Health Department is working to track people he came in close contact with since the event Saturday.
The Pinal County sheriff was among county sheriffs who did not enforce Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s emergency stay-at-home order, saying in May that is was unconstitutional and that he was considering a legal challenge against it.
On KTAR News 92.3 FM Wednesday, Lamb said his deputies have not been wearing masks in the field because they do not train with them, and he worries that would be a liability issue.
He said there had not been any coronavirus cases among deputies.
