Corona crisis: Texan Governor Greg Abbott tests positive for coronavirus

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Greg Abbott (February 2021)

Photo: Bob Daemmrich / imago images / ZUMA Wire

Texas governor Greg Abbott has tested positive for the coronavirus.

He recently spoke out emphatically against stricter regulations in the fight against the pandemic.

"The governor will isolate himself at the governor's residence and continue to test daily," the Republican's office said Tuesday.

Abbott was fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, in good health and currently showing no symptoms, it said.

His wife Cecilia had tested negative.

The positive test comes just a day after a tweet from Abbott.

In this he had written about an appointment at which he had met numerous older supporters of his party.

The event took place in a closed room, Abbott was not wearing a mask.

The Republican had recently struggled against stricter corona rules in Texas.

He had declared conditions such as a mask requirement in the state to be illegal by decree.

Universities can even pay fines for teachers asking unvaccinated students to wear a mask.

The corona situation in Texas is currently very tense due to the particularly contagious Delta variant.

Last week, for example, hospitals were asked to postpone medical interventions that were not absolutely necessary.

Biden targets Republicans

Abbott himself recently had to listen to sharp criticism from the White House for his behavior in the corona crisis.

About two weeks ago President Joe Biden said, “We need leadership from everyone.

And some governors are unwilling to do what is right to fight this pandemic. "

He explicitly named Florida and Texas as negative examples.

"If you're not helping, at least avoid people trying to do the right thing," Biden said.

Like Abbott, the Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, is repeatedly accused of trying to make a name for himself with his polemics against the virus rules among certain groups of the electorate.

Republican DeSantis is considered one of the contenders for a possible nomination for his party for the 2024 presidential election.

jok / dpa