Binghamton Mayor Richard David announced Thursday he contracted the coronavirus — a day after he and other upstate mayors attended an in-person press conference in Syracuse.
David said he found out just hours after the press event — meaning other members of the New York State Conference of Mayors who attended were exposed and could have been infected.
Other attendees included Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, Albany Mayor Kathleen Sheehan, Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick and Fayetteville Mayor Mark Olson, among others.
“Late Wednesday, I tested positive for COVID-19. I’m feeling fine and will be resting at home,” David said in a tweet.
“I will follow the recommendations of healthcare providers on treatment and isolation, and I’m working with health department staff to ensure proper contact tracing.”
Walsh and Myrick said they were quarantining after hearing that David tested positive.
The mayors had gathered in Syracuse to urge President Trump and Congress to approve an emergency package to help cities facing severe budget crises triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
David said he was taking the disease seriously — and urged all others to abide by safety protocols.
“Our area is experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases. I continue to encourage all residents to follow state and federal safety guidelines, including wearing masks in public, social distancing and frequent hand washing,” he said.
“As I said in my budget address Tuesday night, COVID-19 is a deadly virus and America is far from the end of this pandemic.”
The state Health Department has identified Binghamton as one of New York’s hotspots for a resurgence of the coronavirus — with parts of the city reporting an infection rate of 10 percent.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has closed schools and non-essential businesses in the hotspot areas of Brooklyn and Queens in New York City and suburban Rockland and Orange counties that have experienced upticks in COVID-19 cases.
David got tested for COVID-19 after the Wednesday press conference because he wasn’t feeling well, according to a spokesperson for the Conference of Mayors.
The infection of the Binghamton mayor comes a week after President Trump, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and top Trump White House and campaign aides tested positive for COVID-19.
