Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tests positive for coronavirus

AUSTIN, Texas —  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday, according to his office, which said he is in good health and experiencing no symptoms.

Abbott, who was vaccinated in 2020, was isolating in the governor’s mansion in Austin and receiving monoclonal antibody treatment, spokesman Mark Miner said in a statement.

The Republican governor is the latest Texan to test positive as coronavirus cases soar and hospitals around the state are stretched thin. More than 11,500 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Monday, the highest levels since January. The positive test comes a day after Abbott tweeted a picture of himself not wearing a mask while speaking indoors near Dallas to a group of Republicans, most of whom were unmasked.

Jack DeSimone, president of the Republican Club at Heritage Ranch, said he did not like “to have conversations like this” and declined to comment further on Abbott’s appearance with the group.

Miner said the governor’s address to the group was his only public event this week. He said Abbott tested negative Monday and that no one else on his staff has tested positive.

Abbott has staunchly opposed mask mandates for public schools and this week saw defiant districts in some of the state’s largest cities require face coverings anyway. Abbott and Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton, a fellow Republican, are fighting the school districts in court.

Abbott’s wife, Cecilia, tested negative. The governor had been getting tested daily and Miner said “everyone that the governor has been in close contact with today has been notified.”