Jacksonville mayor tests negative for COVID-19 after being in contact with person with virus

Mayor Lenny Curry held a virtual news conference from his home Tuesday morning to give a COVID-19 update.

At the start of the conference, Curry made everyone aware of why he was at home and why he was out of of the office last week.

“Last week, I was out of the office, previously scheduled time out of the office to spend time with my family for a week during the summer. We did that and we had a great time together. However, I learned on Sunday, this past Sunday that I had been in contact with someone that tested positive for COVID-19. In fact, I learned that I was in contact with that person for days before I learned they were positive, and they had been symptomatic,” Curry said.

Curry said he has since been tested for the virus and received negative results, and added that he and his family are self-quarantining at their home, following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the news conference:

As of Tuesday morning, Florida Department of Health officials stated there have been 9,835 positive cases of COVID-19, 375 hospitalizations and 68 patients in ICU and 70 deaths in Duval County. The current positive test percentage is 8.1%

City leaders said there will be three new federal testing sites that will open in Jacksonville on Wednesday, July 8:

• SEARS parking lot at the Regency Square Mall located at 9501 Arlington Expressway from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• First Coast Senior High School located at 590 Duval Station Road from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Frank H. Peterson Academies located at 7450 Wilson Blvd. from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Testing is free and available to anyone regardless of symptoms. To make an appointment, go to: www.DoINeedACovid19Test.com

Testing at Lot J will continue through July 15 and then will move to the Regency Square Mall. “This move will improve service as the testing will occur indoors and won’t be subject to inclement weather,” according to Curry.

City leaders continue to ask everyone to practice personal responsibility amid the coronavirus pandemic and wear a mask in public and when social distancing isn’t possible.

WATCH: Jacksonville mayor's COVID-19 news conference WATCH: Jacksonville mayor's COVID-19 news conference

© 2020 Cox Media Group