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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has tested positive for COVID-19, according to CBS News. He is fully vaccinated and isn’t experiencing any symptoms so far.
Abbott has taken COVID-19 tests daily and received the first positive test on Tuesday, his office said in a statement. He will isolate and continue to test daily.
Everyone who has been in close contact with the governor has been notified, the governor’s office said. Abbott’s wife, Cecilia, has tested negative.
“As you may have heard, I have Covid,” Abbott posted on Twitter on Tuesday evening.
“Right now I have no symptoms such as fever or aches and pain,” he said. “Thanks for the well wishes from around the country.”
Abbott is also being treated with Regeneron’s monoclonal antibodies, according to The New York Times . The treatment is typically given to patients who face risks of severe COVID-19 and is expected to shorten the duration of the infection.
Texas has reported a spike in COVID-19 cases during the past month due to the Delta variant. On Tuesday, the state reported more than 20,000 new cases, marking the highest number of daily cases in Texas since the pandemic began, CBS News reported.
In addition, more than 12,000 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized in the state, which is the most since January, CBS News reported. Last week, Abbott announced that he arranged for more than 2,500 health care workers to help hospitals handle the surge. He also asked Texas hospitals to postpone elective procedures earlier this month.
Despite the growth in cases, Abbott has declined to enact new restrictions to slow the spread of the Delta variant, CBS News reported. He has banned local governments from putting COVID-19 protocols into place and battled with school districts that want to create mask mandates for classrooms.
Abbott’s positive result came less than a day after he appeared at a crowded indoor political event in Collin County, according to the Houston Chronicle. He said that masks were optional for the event.
Sources:
CBS News: “Texas Governor Greg Abbott tests positive for COVID-19.”
Office of the Texas Governor: “Officer Of The Governor Statement Concerning Governor Abbott.”
Twitter: @GregAbbott_TX, August 17, 2021
The New York Times: “Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas has tested positive for the coronavirus.”
Houston Chronicle: “Gov. Greg Abbott tests positive for COVID after jam-packed, maskless GOP event.”
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