Texas Governor Greg Abbott Tests Positive for COVID-19 After Attending Maskless GOP Event
21:02 GMT 17.08.2021 (Updated: 13:22 GMT 06.08.2022)
© Flickr / Gage Skidmore
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Last night, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) tweeted photos of himself addressing attendees of a GOP event in Collin County, Texas. Neither Abbott, nor the majority of the individuals pictured, were wearing face masks. Additional photos tweeted hours before his public diagnosis showed the Texas governor posing near guitarist Jimmie Vaughan.
Abbott's office confirmed in a Tuesday news release that the Republican governor of Texas tested positive for COVID-19 amid daily testing.
"Governor Abbott is in constant communication with his staff, agency heads, and government officials to ensure that state government continues to operate smoothly and efficiently," the memo read. "The Governor will isolate in the Governor's Mansion and continue to test daily."
The announcement comes as Abbott's first known case of COVID-19.
The Texas governor, who is reportedly fully vaccinated, is said to be receiving Regeneron's monoclonal antibody treatment.
The treatment has only been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use, and is not authorized for the treatment of individuals who have been hospitalized, or require oxygen therapy due to COVID-19.
Mark Miner, communications director for the office of the governor, detailed that Abbott "remains in good health" and is not experiencing symptoms at this time. Those who were in "close contact" with the governor on Tuesday were notified of his diagnosis.
Abbott's wife, First Lady Cecilia Abbott, tested negative for COVID-19.
Earlier in the day, Abbott met with guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, older brother of late Texas blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Honor to meet with @JimmieVaughan—brother of Stevie Ray Vaughan and a legendary Texas musician in his own right.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 17, 2021
Hope to catch your show in September at the @ErwinCenter. pic.twitter.com/QNv4K8JmhT
Additionally, he was seen speaking at a maskless event in Collin County, which has one of the highest rates of hospitalization for patients confirmed to have COVID-19, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Another standing room only event in Collin County tonight.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 17, 2021
Thank y’all for the enthusiastic reception.
Let's keep this energy up and send a message that Texas values are NOT up for grabs in 2022. pic.twitter.com/wlPZyrHpx3
Abbott previously endured a COVID-19 scare back in July, shortly after meeting with a number of Florida officials, including Ashley Moody, the state's attorney general. Moody later confirmed that she tested positive for the contagious disease, but Abbott's test returned a negative result.
