WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Aronberg sent an email to employees at his office Monday urging everyone to "take this pandemic seriously, as it continues to spread like wildfire."
"I know this personally, because I just tested positive for COVID-19," he wrote.
Aronberg said he is "one of the fortunate ones, as I have relatively mild symptoms and can continue to work a normal schedule from home while quarantined."
DAVE ARONBERG'S EMAIL TO EMPLOYEES
Dear Team:
Please take this pandemic seriously, as it continues to spread like wildfire. I know this personally, because I just tested positive for COVID-19. I am one of the fortunate ones, as I have relatively mild symptoms and can continue to work a normal schedule from home while quarantined. Our management team has been following office protocol to reach out to anyone who has had contact with me.
Although I have tried to be vigilant about wearing a mask, social distancing and hand washing, I am often out in public and I live in a building with shared elevators. My diagnosis has made me more motivated than ever to continue imploring people to wear a mask, as it is about protecting others. It's about loving our neighbors as ourselves.
I also urge everyone to get tested, even if you have no symptoms. Many people who spread this virus are asymptomatic.
As State Attorney, I am dedicated to protecting the safety of our community, and to ensure that our 350 employees have a healthy environment to work. We are all in this together and we will get through this by looking after one another.
Sincerely,
Dave
Palm Beach County's top attorney said he has tried to remain vigilant and routinely washes his hands, but he also said he's often in public and lives in a building with shared elevators.
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Aronberg has been an outspoken defender of Palm Beach County's controversial mask mandate, saying that commissioners have the constitutional authority to issue such an order and warning of fake face mask exempt cards being passed around to defy the ordinance.
"My diagnosis has made me more motivated than ever to continue imploring people to wear a mask, as it is about protecting others," Aronberg said.
The announcement comes on the same day that Palm Beach County's property appraiser, Dorothy Jacks, said she has tested positive for the coronavirus.
"We are all in this together and we will get through this by looking after one another," Aronberg concluded in his email.