Arizona Sheriff Tests Positive For COVID After Refusing To Enforce State’s Stay-At-Home Order

Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb of Arizona (courtesy of Pinal County)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Arizona Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who ignored Gov. Doug Ducey (R)’s stay-at-home order, announced on Wednesday that he had tested positive for COVID-19 right before his scheduled meeting with President Donald Trump the day before.

“On Tuesday, I was called to join the President at the White House. As is protocol, all visitors are screened for the virus,” Lamb wrote in a Facebook post. “While still asymptomatic, I tested positive for the COVID-19.”

The sheriff stated that he would be self-quarantining for the next 14 days.

“Unfortunately, as a law enforcement official and elected leader, we do not have the luxury of staying home. This line of work is inherently dangerous, and that is a risk we take when we sign up for the job,” he wrote. “Today, that risk is the COVID-19 virus.”

Lamb is one of several sheriffs who have refused to enforce their governors’ stay-at-home orders amid the pandemic.

“I think people want to know that we’re going to support their constitutional rights,” he said in May, arguing that Arizona’s COVID-19 death toll of over 300 at that point was “not a significant enough number to continue to ruin the economy.”

The sheriff’s announcement was first reported by the Arizona Republic.

Latest News
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: