Riverside County Sheriff Recovering From Coronavirus At Home

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco confirmed on social media Wednesday that coronavirus infected his family, including himself, but he is self-quarantining at home with "light symptoms."

"Well, the virus made its way through the entire Bianco family: all the kids, (grandbabies tested negative), Denise (wife), and yours truly," Bianco shared. "Everyone recovered after light symptoms. I held off the longest and wouldn’t have known other than I lost my sense of smell/taste."

According to the sheriff, he's been drinking a lot of "hot lemon water" in place of his usual coffee.

"Denise is taking good care of me, and her cooking has been perfect!!!" Bianco said.

The sheriff did not say when he was diagnosed.

Since last spring, dozens of sheriff's deputies and personnel have contracted the virus. In April, Bianco announced that two of his longtime deputies, both in their 50s, died from COVID-19 complications.

The sheriff said he is following health guidelines.

"I am working from home while abiding by the recommended quarantine," the 53-year-old career lawman and Riverside resident said on social media.

The California Department of Public Health recommends a 10-day stay-at-home period following infection.

Bianco didn't specify when he intended to return to his office at the sheriff's headquarters in downtown Riverside.

Bianco has made national headlines for his stance against Gov. Gavin Newsom's COVID-19 coronavirus safety orders.