Lee County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Brian Hamman recently announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

Hamman made the announcement on his Facebook page on July 8, stating that he is not certain how he caught the coronavirus. He received the positive test results on July 7.

“Unfortunately, I have tested positive for COVID-19,” Hamman said. “The good news is my symptoms are mild. They are a lot like a cold and everybody in my family seems to be in the same kind of shape. The kids are fine so that’s really good news. The biggest symptom for me is I can not taste or smell anything.”

He said he lost his sense of taste or smell six days prior “and immediately we isolated ourselves.”

The Florida Department of Health has started contact tracing “to let everybody know,” Hamman continued. He said he has been following social distancing guidelines and wearing a mask.

“I honestly have no idea where or how I caught this,” Hamman said. “I’ve been following all of the guidelines I have been recommending to all of you.”

“Let it be a warning to you that anyone can catch this and anyone can spread this,” he added.

Hamman said people should take precautions to protect other people.

“Take every symptom that you have right now. I never had a fever neither does my wife, but we both have allergy or cold-like symptoms so if you get symptoms like that please isolate yourself, make an appointment to be tested and do your part not to spread this disease,” he said. “Please wear your mask when you can’t physically distance.”

Hamman said he will be quarantining at home and he called on people to limit social activities and wash their hands.

“There is just so much of this out there,” Hamman said. “Now is not a good time to be going to any kind of parties or anything like that.”