Texas governor Greg Abbott tests positive for COVID-19

Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, has tested positive for COVID-19, according to reports from US media citing statements from the governor’s office.

Abbott, who is a member of the Republican party, had been testing himself every day and got his first positive result on Tuesday. The statement from the governor’s office said that the 63-year-old had been fully vaccinated against the disease.

The statement added that the Republican governor had not been experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms so far, however, has been isolated. Cecilia Abbott, wife of Abbott and first lady of Texas, did not test positive for coronavirus.

The statement read, “Governor Abbott is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, in good health, and currently experiencing no symptoms. Everyone that the Governor has been in close contact with today has been notified. Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott tested negative.”

While being isolated at the governor’s mansion in Texas, Abbott was maintaining communication with members of his office like government officials and agency heads to “ensure that state government continues to operate smoothly and efficiently.”

Regeneron’s monoclonal antibody treatment is currently being administered to the Republican leader, according to the statement released on Tuesday.

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The statement read, “Governor Greg Abbott today tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The Governor has been testing daily, and today was the first positive test result. 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.”

It added, “The Governor will isolate in the Governor’s Mansion and continue to test daily. Governor Abbott is receiving Regeneron’s monoclonal antibody treatment.”

The news comes as the United States has been battling the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus. While this so-called breakthrough infection remains rare, many well-known names like members of the New York Yankees, US Olympic gymnast Kara Eaker and UK health secretary Sajid Javid are some of those diagnosed with it.

According to the COVID-19 tracker maintained by the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the country has 36,951,181 cases of the disease while the death tally stands at 620,493 as of Tuesday.