Mayor Levine Cava Tests Positive For Coronavirus

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FL — Mayor Daniella Levine Cava tested positive for COVID-19 Monday and is experiencing mild symptoms, she posted on Twitter.

Her husband, Dr. Robert Cava, was exposed to the coronavirus by one of his patients on Wednesday and also tested positive for the virus Monday. She said that she was exposed to the virus through him over the Thanksgiving holiday and hasn’t been in contact with any Miami-Dade County employees since then.

“Rob and I are quarantining safely at home. We both remain in good spirits and are fortunate to have only mild symptoms at this time,” Levine Cava tweeted. “My thoughts are with all the doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, police, and fire rescue workers across our community who continue to serve and protect Miami-Dade residents despite great personal risk to themselves and their loved ones.”

She added, “Our family is no different from the thousands of other families at heightened risk of exposure due to the sacrifice of healthcare workers and first responders on the frontlines. These essential workers are truly the heroes and heroines who sacrifice to keep our community safe, and I’m more grateful than ever for their bravery."

Her positive coronavirus test comes on the heels of the previous mayor, Carlos Gimenez, announcing that he and his wife, Lourdes Gimenez, tested positive for COVID-19 Thanksgiving Day. Carlos was recently elected to take over Florida’s District 26 U.S. House seat. At the time he announced his positive test result, he said that he and his wife weren’t experiencing any symptoms and that he was attending the U.S. House of Representatives new member orientation virtually.

Levine Cava, who defeated Esteban Bovo in the Nov. 3 runoff election for the mayoral seat left vacant by Gimenez, was sworn into office Nov. 17. She recently cut her annual salary by 20 percent, and hired Deputy Mayor Edward Marquez as the county’s chief financial office and J.D. Patterson as Miami-Dade’s first chief public safety officer.

Free testing for COVID-19 is being offered at drive-up, walk-in and mobile sites throughout Miami-Dade County. A complete list of county testing sites, their addresses and hours can be found online here.