Tarrant Sheriff Waybourn says he has coronavirus; some commanders begin to quarantine
Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn tested positive for the novel coronavirus about a week ago, his agency said Friday.
Waybourn, 61, began showing symptoms on Nov. 13 and started to quarantine. He tested positive on Nov. 14, Lt. Jennifer Gabbert, a sheriff’s office spokeswoman, said.
Waybourn, who has experienced mild symptoms, has been in contact with the Tarrant County health department to determine close-contact risks. There are three people with whom the sheriff had been in close contact during a high-risk period, Gabbert said. They have recently tested negative for COVID-19.
Some members of the sheriff’s office command staff began on Nov. 14 to quarantine as a precaution.
Organizers of a Nov. 14 demonstration in Dallas attended by supporters of President Donald Trump indicated before the event that Waybourn would be among its speakers, but the sheriff did not attend. He canceled because of a personal family matter, David McClelland, a Waybourn spokesman, said on Nov. 14.
Waybourn, a Republican, earlier this month won another term with 52.67% of the vote. Democratic candidate Vance Keyes received 47.33%.
This story was originally published November 20, 2020 at 7:13 PM with the headline "Tarrant Sheriff Waybourn says he has coronavirus; some commanders begin to quarantine."
