The chairman of Miami-Dade’s county commission has examined positive for COVID-19 about 4 months after he stated he was absolutely vaccinated for the virus — prompting a wave of deliberate tests for senior county leaders and elevating questions on publicity at the Surfside command middle.
Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz has been a frequent presence in Surfside, showing beside Mayor Daniella Levine Cava at media occasions and behind closed doorways with county directors. He additionally presided over a commission assembly Thursday that was the first with out protecting plastic limitations between commission seats — an anti-COVID safeguard that went up final 12 months and got here down beneath Diaz’s tenure.
Rachel Johnson, communications director for Miami-Dade, stated COVID-19 tests are deliberate at the Surfside command middle Monday following the Diaz prognosis. She stated county elected officers and workers who attended Thursday’s commission assembly additionally will likely be examined.
That would come with the prime directors in the Surfside response, together with Mayor Daniella Levine Cava (who contracted COVID in November), Fire Chief Alan Cominsky and Police Director Freddy Ramirez.
The information offers Miami-Dade its most distinguished identified “breakthrough case” for COVID-19 vaccines — somebody who apparently caught the virus after being absolutely vaccinated. While the odds are low of contracting the normal COVID-19 virus after vaccination, they aren’t zero. Researchers say new variants could also be simpler at infecting vaccinated folks.
Vaccinations are also credited with decreasing the severity of COVID-19 for those that contract the virus after vaccination — with signs extra more likely to be delicate than extreme.
In a press release, the commission’s press workplace stated Diaz and a prime aide each examined positive for the virus and had been experiencing flu-like signs Sunday. A spokesperson stated Diaz’s check was on Sunday as nicely.
“Today Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz and his Chief of Staff, Isidro Lopez examined positive for COVID-19. Both began experiencing flu-like signs earlier at this time and will likely be isolating. Staff and others who’ve been in shut contact with them will likely be getting examined between at this time and tomorrow,” the assertion learn. “The chairman and his chief of staff both had the COVID-19 vaccine and will be following the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.”
There have been stories of COVID-19 circumstances amongst search groups in Surfside, with members of rescue squads testing positive for the virus. Authorities described the circumstances as remoted.
A spokesperson for Diaz stated the chairman, who’s 60, acquired his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine in March.
