Two Marion County Commissioners in COVID-19 quarantine

Two members of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners were absent from this week’s meeting as they quarantine after having been exposed to COVID-19.

Marion County Commissioners Carl Zalak and Kathy Bryant were both absent from the Tuesday, August 3 meeting of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners as they quarantine themselves from the public. 

Zalak says he tested positive for the virus and will quarantine for a few more days. Bryant says her husband tested positive for the virus on July 31 and as of Tuesday, she had ten days remaining in quarantine. 

“Unfortunately I’m unable to be in attendance in person today. My husband tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday (July 31),” said Bryant during the Tuesday meeting.

After a brief discussion with the Marion County Attorney Matthew Minter, the three commissioners that were preset at Tuesday’s meeting approved a motion to allow the absent commissioners to vote for measures over the phone. 

During the meeting, Commissioner Craig Curry implored residents to get vaccinated, describing his bought with COVID-19 as “10 days in Hell.” 

Officials with the Florida Department of Health in Marion County, Ocala Health, and multiple other health organizations across the county have all issued statements in recent months in support of the COVID-19 vaccine, labeling it the most effective tool in the fight against the spread of COVID-19.