PALM BAY, Fla. — State House Rep. Randy Fine (R-Palm Bay) said Sunday he's been admitted to a hospital after a diagnosis of "pretty serious" lung damage from COVID-19.


What You Need To Know

  • Randy Fine admitted to hospital, says he has "pretty serious" lung damage

  • Florida Republican said he doesn't need supplemental oxygen at this time

  • He, his wife, 2 young sons tested positive for coronavirus late last month

"So I got the X-ray back and it wasn’t what I expected. Doctor said I have some pretty serious damage in my lungs and is ordering me admitted to the hospital. They also did a blood oxygen test that showed a much lower level that what shows up on the pulse oxymeter," the Republican said on Facebook.

Fine said he was being admitted to a hospital "as a precaution" for observation. He said he didn't need supplemental oxygen nor a ventilator at this time.

"But they feel as though things could fall apart quickly and if I do need those things it is better that I am here," Fine said.

Late last month, he, his wife, and their two young sons had tested positive for the coronavirus.

"I wouldn’t have thought I’d be getting admitted to the hospital after 12 days of this," he said of his battle with COVID-19.

Fine, 46, late last month called the positive tests another shock to “internalize.”

“At least the good news is that four of us can stop hiding from each other,” Fine quipped at the time.

 

Fine, first elected in 2016 and subsequently re-elected, is fighting for another term this year as his family battles COVID-19.

“Wendy will be isolated in the house and the rest of us will remain quarantined for an indeterminate time,’’ he said late last month on Facebook.

He noted at the time he had a persistent cough and correctly predicted he was just a few days away from testing positive for the disease.

“We don't need anything, though obviously appreciate everyone's prayers,” Fine wrote. “Dealing with the shock of it right now.”

He learned on July 17 that he had been in contact with someone on July 12 who tested positive for COVID-19. Fine said he was within six feet of that person for more than 10 minutes.

“In compliance with CDC guidelines, my family and I are going into quarantine,” he said July 17.

Fine faces a challenge from Marcelle "Marcie" Adkins in the August 18 primary. The winner of the GOP primary faces Democrat Phil Moore and write-in candidate Thomas Patrick Unger in the November 3 general election.