Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and his wife have tested positive for Covid-19, the governor’s office said Wednesday.
Parson said he will continue to carry out his duties from the governor’s mansion, and promised more details on the situation Thursday. The governor’s staff is also undergoing testing, according to Parson’s office.
“Needless to say, it’s been quite a day here at the mansion and here at the state capitol,” Parson said in a video message Wednesday evening.
The governor’s office said that Parson — who is running for a full term having taken office following Eric Greitens’ resignation in 2018 amid a torrent of scandals — is indefinitely postponing all government and campaign events. That includes a debate against his Democratic challenger, Nicole Galloway, scheduled for Friday.
The Parsons were first tested Wednesday after the first lady started to display minor symptoms. The pair were then re-screened using the more accurate polymerase chain reaction, or PCR tests, which subsequently confirmed Teresa’s results. The governor’s test is still pending.
In a video posted to social media, Teresa Parson said she was “fine” but decided to seek testing after developing “cold-like symptoms.”
“My test did come back positive, but I want to reassure you I’m going to take the next few days to take care of myself, and I will see you again soon,” the first lady said.
Unless the test turns out to have yielded a false positive, Mike Parson is the second sitting governor to be diagnosed with the virus.
In July, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt was diagnosed with Covid-19; he has since returned to work. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine also tested positive ahead of a scheduled meeting with President Donald Trump, though that proved to be a false positive.
