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Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay tests positive for coronavirus

Commissioner says she's quarantining, working with officials on contact tracing
Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay explains vote on mask mandate
Posted at 8:23 AM, Oct 27, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-27 11:25:29-04

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay announced on Tuesday that she's tested positive for the coronavirus.

McKinlay posted on social media that she's quarantining per CDC guidelines and is working with health officials on contract tracing.

The commissioner said she feels lethargic and a bit achy, but is otherwise showing no symptoms.

"I feel tired, but I think we all do at this point in 2020," McKinlay wrote.

Because of her COVID-19 diagnosis, McKinlay attended Tuesday's county commission meeting by audio and was not physically present.

"Anybody who still wants to believe that this virus isn't a real thing is welcome to come and talk to me," McKinlay said via teleconference. "I'm in quarantine for the next 10 days."

In September, McKinlay said her 19-year-old daughter went to the emergency room after testing positive for COVID-19.

SPECIAL COVERAGE: Coronavirus

Florida reported an additional 3,377 coronavirus cases on Monday.

Florida's first-time positivity rate for COVID-19 increased from 4.71% to 5.94%, and Palm Beach County's rate went from 4.71% percent to 6.18%, the highest in a month and higher than the 5% goal that health officials aim for.

Deaths per day from the coronavirus in the U.S. are on the rise again. Average deaths per day across the country are up 10% over the past two weeks, from 721 to nearly 794 as of Sunday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.