Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond was hospitalized Tuesday with symptoms of COVID-19.
Hammond tested positive for the virus last week and was originally asymptomatic, but announced mild symptoms Monday. According to Chief Deputy Austin Garrett, Hammond was taken to the hospital Tuesday afternoon and asked to stay overnight for additional treatment.
Garrett described the sheriff as doing OK but experiencing body aches and other "normal" COVID-19 symptoms.
"He's getting ahead of it by getting additional treatment," Garrett told the Times Free Press late Tuesday. "He's having normal symptoms and they decided to keep him overnight."
Hammond's chief of staff, G.A. "Gino" Bennett, tested positive for and was in intensive care due to the virus last week, but has reportedly recovered and returned home.
In recent public Facebook posts, the sheriff's wife, Jeanie Hammond, shared that she and Hammond were both experiencing symptoms in recent days and went to the doctor late Tuesday.
According to her posts, only the sheriff was held at Erlanger and will decide Wednesday what kind of treatment he needs.
"They are keeping him for tonight & will decide more tomorrow what kinds of treatment he will need! Thank you all for your prayers," she wrote. "We appreciate so much your keeping us in your prayers!"
The sheriff, who is in his 70s, does not plan to seek re-election.
This summer, Hammond questioned the effectiveness of masks in combating the coronavirus and would not commit to being tested for the virus after being photographed maskless at a crowded Lincoln Day celebration hosted by the Hamilton County Republicans.
The sheriff's office is tasked with enforcing a mask mandate from the county's health department, which was recently extended through Nov. 22. Hammond has maintained he will not "harass" anyone not wearing a mask. The department has issued no known citations since the original mandate was issued in July.
BACKGROUND
Hammond tests positive for COVID-19; chief of staff in ICU
Sheriff doubts effectiveness of masks, will not commit to testing after exposure to coronavirus
Hamilton County sheriff will lean toward warnings in COVID-19 mask enforcement