FORT MYERS, FLa. — Amid rising coronavirus cases in Florida, Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman revealed he has tested positive for COVID-19.
Commissioner Hamman made the announcement via Facebook.
He says he got tested after losing his sense of taste and smell.
In the two minute video, the Commissioner warned other about the dangers of COVID-19.
"I want this to be a lesson to you. Let it be a warning to you. That anyone can catch this and anyone can spread this," said Hamman.
Commissioner Hamman says he has no idea how he contracted the virus as he has been following CDC rules like social distancing and wearing a mask in public.
In previous Facebook posts, Hamman has been vocal about not supporting a mask mandate in Lee County. In the post, he says he believes a mandate would 'set our law enforcement up for potentially dangerous conflicts'.
His post comes as many cities across the country are making masks mandatory while in public.
Cincinnati, Ohio is a city that has taken a different approach to enforce its mandatory mask rule.
The city’s health department is on the hook to enforce the mask mandate.
The system relies on people in the community to call the health department to report rule-breakers. After a report is made, a health inspector, not a police officer, responds to the scene.
In southwest Florida Punta Gorda, Fort Myers Beach, and Sanibel all have mask mandates in place.
As of today, the Lee County Commissioners office says no special meetings will be held to discuss the possibility of mandating masks.
In Commissioner Hamman's Facebook video, he asks people to implement their own personal mask mandate in order to protect themselves and others.
"I am asking everyone to do your part, create your own personal mask mandate. Create your own personal responsibility to start taking these precautions and protecting other people from this disease there’s just so much of it out there right now." said Hamman.
