Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, according to his office.
The Republican leader is fully vaccinated and was asymptomatic after testing positive, according to Abbott spokesman Mark Miner.
“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,” Miner said in a statement. “Everyone that the Governor has been in close contact with today has been notified.”
More:Is Abbott misusing his disaster powers in fight against mask and vaccine requirements?
Abbott made a public appearance one day prior to testing positive, when he spoke at an event in Collin County. Photos posted to social media show that he mingled freely with the mostly unmasked crowd to shake hands and pose for pictures.
On Twitter, Abbott described the event as standing room only and thanked participants for an “enthusiastic reception.”
Three hours before sharing the news of his positive coronavirus test, Abbott posted a photo of himself and musician Jimmie Vaughan on Twitter.
“Honor to meet with (Vaughan) — brother of Stevie Ray Vaughan and a legendary Texas musician in his own right,” he wrote.
Vaughn tweeted shortly after Abbott’s announcement that “Jimmie & family have tested negative and are doing fine.”
Abbott’s diagnosis comes as coronavirus infections and hospitalizations continue to rise across the state. Abbott has come under fire for his response to the latest pandemic surge and his refusal to allow local governments and school districts to impose mask or vaccination mandates.
Local officials in many of the state’s larger counties and cities have disobeyed the prohibition — particularly for public schools, where attendance is required but children under 12 are unable to get a COVID-19 vaccination. The Leander school district in Williamson County and western Travis County was among the latest to buck Abbott on Tuesday and require masks after the district recorded 87 positive cases since school began Thursday.
On the first day of school, Leander Superintendent Bruce Gearing had said, “The governor, I believe, thinks that it should be individuals’ choice. We believe in choice in our district.”
More:Facing mounting pressure, Gov. Greg Abbott maintains ban on mask mandate in Texas
Petitioned by local leaders, trial court judges in Austin, Dallas and San Antonio have issued restraining orders blocking enforcement of Abbott’s ban on mask mandates.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton responded by asking the Texas Supreme Court to void mask mandates, arguing that the governor’s emergency powers during a declared disaster let him issue executive orders that have “the force and effect of law.”
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dade Phelan and other lawmakers offered prayers for Abbott’s recovery on Twitter on Tuesday, including some Democrats.
But others used the news of Abbott’s diagnosis to criticize his response to the pandemic or to urge people to get the coronavirus vaccine.
“The leader of the TX GOP Sinking Ship gets to protect himself while hospitals and families suffer,” said state Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos, D-Richardson, in a tweet.
As of Monday, 54.6% of Texans over the age of 12 were fully vaccinated.
Despite his unwavering opposition to vaccine mandates, Abbott has encouraged Texans to get inoculated. Earlier this month, Abbott directed state health agencies to expand vaccination availability across the state.
“Texans can help bolster our efforts by getting vaccinated against COVID-19,” Abbott said in an Aug. 9 statement. “The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective, and it is our best defense against this virus.”
