Phoenix council member DiCiccio tests positive for COVID-19
Phoenix City Council member Sal DiCiccio is quarantining after testing positive for COVID-19 earlier this month, according to his chief of staff, Sam Stone.
DiCiccio is feeling better after experiencing mild symptoms and will complete his quarantine period on Thursday, Stone said.
DiCiccio is the latest in a slew of metro-area officials who tested positive for the virus in the last two months.
Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke tested positive last week, while Mesa City Councilmember Francisco Heredia and then-Gilbert Town Councilmember Jared Taylor contracted the virus in early January. Gilbert Councilmembers Laurin Hendrix and Scott September also recovered after testing positive for the virus in December.
The infections come amid a surge in cases across the state, with Arizona’s seven-day, new-case average ranking highest in the United States on Monday, as it has for much of January, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Data Tracker.
DiCiccio has been the most outspoken voice on the council in opposition of a government shutdown or regulations on businesses during the pandemic. He was one of two council members who voted against a citywide mask mandate last June.
He disagreed with the council’s decision to prohibit youth sports tournaments from taking place in the city this winter and he has advocated for inperson learning in schools.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, which was hosted virtually, DiCiccio said, “I’m still in quarantine hell, but I’m nearing the end of that thing.”
DiCiccio believes he got the virus while attending a house event with five other people about two and a half weeks ago, Stone told The Arizona Republic on Tuesday.
Stone said that DiCiccio had gathered with the five friends indoors at a friend’s house. Stone said he does not know if DiCiccio wore a mask.
DiCiccio started feeling sick on Jan. 14, with symptoms of a head cold, and he was sick for about a day before starting to feel better, Stone said.