Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Tests Positive for Coronavirus

U.S.|Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas tested affirmative for the coronavirus.

• Aug. 17, 2021Updated 5:52 p.m. ET

Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas tested affirmative for the coronavirus connected Tuesday, though helium has nary symptoms, the governor’s bureau announced.

An ardent hostile of disguise and vaccine mandates, Mr. Abbott, a Republican, has taken his absorption to specified requirements each the mode to the authorities Supreme Court. Mr. Abbott, who is afloat vaccinated, volition present beryllium isolated successful the Governor’s Mansion portion receiving monoclonal antibody treatment, which tin assistance Covid-19 patients who are astatine hazard of getting precise sick.

“The politician has been investigating daily, and contiguous was the archetypal affirmative trial result,” the connection said. “Governor Abbott is successful changeless connection with his staff, bureau heads, and government.”

At slightest 10 different sitting governors — 4 Democrats and six Republicans — person tested affirmative for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, according to reports compiled by Ballotpedia; truthful person 4 lieutenant governors, each Republicans.

Vaccinations successful Texas lag down those of galore different states, and coronavirus deaths are rising, though acold much dilatory than successful anterior waves, fixed that a bulk of the state’s oldest and astir susceptible residents are present vaccinated. The authorities has averaged much than 14,700 caller cases a time arsenic of Monday, an summation of 53 percent from 2 weeks earlier, according to a New York Times database.

Mr. Abbott, 63, has faced withering criticism arsenic coronavirus cases person accrued sharply successful Texas and disposable intensive-care beds person dwindled successful Austin and different cities. But helium maintained his prohibition connected disguise mandates, which prohibits section officials from imposing restrictions successful their communities.

Fear and vexation implicit the people of the pandemic successful Texas, the nation’s 2nd astir populous state, travel arsenic schools are preparing to reopen, raising worries astir further dispersed of the virus.

Last month, responding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issuing caller guidance recommending that afloat vaccinated radical request to deterioration a disguise indoors successful high-risk areas, Mr. Abbott doubled down successful the other direction. He issued an enforcement order that prohibited section governments and authorities agencies from mandating vaccines, and reaffirmed erstwhile decisions to prohibit section officials from mandating masks.

The politician besides affirmed that schools could not enforce disguise mandates for students; immoderate nationalist wellness experts warned that the prohibition could pb to different surge successful cases.

Late connected Friday, aft Mr. Abbott’s prohibition suffered astatine slightest 3 ineligible setbacks, the authorities lawyer general, Ken Paxton, said helium was taking the contented to the State Supreme Court. The setbacks were successful areas with Democratic leaders, rampant coronavirus cases and rising hospitalizations.

The State Supreme Court past sided with the authorities connected Sunday, granting a petition for an exigency enactment of an appellate tribunal ruling that would person allowed schools to marque look coverings mandatory.

As the microorganism surged, the Texas Department of State Health Services requested 5 mortuary trailers from the national authorities connected Aug. 4 “as a precaution,” Douglas Loveday, a spokesperson for the authorities wellness department, said successful an emailed statement. The mortuary trailers volition beryllium kept successful San Antonio, though nary person been requested by cities oregon counties arsenic of Tuesday, helium said.

The 5 trailers are scheduled to get successful Texas opening connected Friday, according to a spokeswoman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Edgar Sandoval contributed reporting.