Arizona sheriff tested positive for coronavirus day after visiting the White House

A sheriff from Arizona who said he'd refuse to enforce the state's emergency coronavirus orders has tested positive for the virus a day after visiting the White House.

Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb learned he had Covid-19 a day after he was invited to join Mr Trump at the White House. However, it is claimed that Mr. Lamb did not attend the event or meet with the President as a result of a positive COVID-19 test following White House screening procedures.

Mr Lamb announced his infection on the department's Facebook page.

"Unfortunately, as a law enforcement official and elected leader, we do not have the luxury of staying home," Mr Lamb wrote. "This line of work is inherently dangerous, and that is a risk we take when we sign up for the job. Today, that risk is the COVID-19 virus."

The sheriff goes on to theorize that he was exposed to someone with Covid-19 at a campaign event he held the previous Saturday.

Mr Lamb said he is currently asymptomatic and plans to self-quarantine for at least two weeks and has alerted the Pinal County Public Health Department so it can begin contact tracing.

According to the Arizona Republic, Mr Lamb said he would not enforce Arizona Governor Doug Ducey's stay-at-home orders, claiming he felt they were "unconstitutional."

He told the Phoenix New Times that he had to weigh the US Constitution against the governor's orders.

"In tough times, tough decisions have to be made," he said. "I'm looking at two laws in each hand [and] going with the one that's 200 years old rather than two days old."

Mr Lamb was elected in 2016 after he ran a campaign that appropriated the "tough, independent sheriff" image that made former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio a favourite among the conservatives in the county. Mr Lamb was one of several Arizona sheriffs who refused to enforce the governor's orders. Mohave County Sheriff Douglas Schuster and Gila County Sheriff Adam Shepherd said they wouldn't arrest people or shut down businesses but would advise residents of the state's recommendations.

Mr Trump has a rally scheduled in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday, which will be held indoors. Masks are being discouraged and - seeing as how Mr Trump and his White House cohort have been exposed to an individual with the virus - health officials are concerned the rally will become a "super-spreader" event.

UPDATE (06.07.20): This article has been updated to clarify that while Mr Lamb did visit the White House, he did not attend the scheduled event, or meet with the President, due to Mr Lamb receiving a positive COVID-19 test following White House screening procedures.