Missouri Gov. Mike Parsons, a Republican who has been critical of mask mandates during the coronavirus pandemic, has tested positive for the virus.
Parsons, 65, said his wife, Teresa, tested positive for the deadly bug after developing symptoms early Wednesday, and that a precautionary test he subsequently took also came back positive, the governor said on Twitter.
“Right now, I feel fine,” he said. “No symptoms of any kind, but right now we just gotta take the quarantine procedures in place. Again, I think the main thing as of right now — this is very early on — we’re gonna have to see where the first lady goes.”
“I want to encourage everybody what I have (said) every day. Take care of yourselves,” Parsons added. “Do the best you can to protect yourselves: Social distancing, wear a mask, personal hygiene.”
Parsons has repeatedly urged Missourians to wear masks and maintain social distancing but has railed against mandated mask regulates.
“You don’t need government to tell you to wear a dang mask,” he said during rally in July. “If you want to wear a dang mask, wear a mask.”
Parsons and the state’s first lady had been out and about campaigning for his upcoming election challenge from Democratic State Auditor Nicole Galloway, including an event Friday in Springfield where Parsons and four other elected officials were seen without masks.
The governor’s diagnosis comes as Missouri has seen a resurgence of the coronavirus. The a-state had about 160,000 confirmed cases when Parsons reopened the state in June, but has now seen nearly 117,000 cases, the state health department said.
With Post wires
