City Commissioner Tests Positive For COVID-19: Report

SARASOTA, FL — One of Sarasota’s newest city commissioners, Kyle Scott Battie, has tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, the Herald-Tribune reported. He was just elected to the Sarasota City Commission in the Nov. 3 general elections.

Battie received his positive test result before Friday’s swearing-in ceremony at Sarasota City Hall, reports said. He was given a rapid test ahead of the event and attended virtually from his office.

He told the Herald-Tribune that he feels fine, other than a dry cough, loss of appetite, and a brief lost of taste and smell, which have since returned. He’s quarantining himself until his symptoms go away and he tests negative for coronavirus.

As a public official, he felt it was important “to be responsible and transparent,” reports said.

Battie is the first city commissioner to go public with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. He also said he doesn’t know where he caught it.