Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke announced on Monday that he has tested positive for COVID-19.
The news comes after a busy week of campaign stops and town hall meetings, where O’Rourke hosted crowded events in Livingston, Irving, San Antonio, and others. His Twitter account also features live streams of these events, during which he is visibly unmasked and is shown speaking to unmasked voters.
“In addition to being fully vaccinated and boosted, I regularly test for COVID-19 while traveling the state for town hall meetings,” tweeted O’Rourke. “I tested negative yesterday morning before testing positive today. I have mild symptoms and will be following public health guidelines.”
In addition to being fully vaccinated and boosted, I regularly test for COVID-19 while traveling the state for town hall meetings.
I tested negative yesterday morning before testing positive today.
I have mild symptoms and will be following public health guidelines.
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) April 25, 2022
His campaign says that no further events are scheduled for this week.
O’Rourke’s opponent, current Texas Governor Greg Abbott, also tested positive for the virus in August of last year. His office at the time told ABC 13 News that he tested daily and quarantined at home.
O’Rourke’s positive test comes as mask regulations are being lifted across the country. A federal judge recently halted the face mask mandate in airports and on public transportation.
