Missouri Gov. Mike Parson Tests Positive For Coronavirus

MISSOURI — Gov. Mike Parson has tested positive for the coronavirus, the governor's office said.

Parson and his wife were tested Wednesday morning after First Lady Teresa Parson developed "mild" symptoms. All campaign events have been canceled and the governor's staff is also being tested for the virus.

"Needless to say, it's been quite a day here at the mansion and here at the state capitol," Parson said in a video posted to Twitter. "First of all, I want everybody to know that myself and the first lady are both fine. The first lady started showing some symptoms, and today me and her talked, and we sure thought the best thing to do was for her to get tested."

The governor said his positive result will be confirmed with a second test, but that he feels fine and hasn't developed any symptoms. He will quarantine as he continues to work from the governor's mansion.

"One thing I would ask is for your prayers and for your thoughts for the first lady," Parson said. "Again, we're both fine. We're going to move forward on this. And again, I want to encourage everybody what I have everyday, take care of yourselves, do the best you can to protect yourselves, social distancing, wear a mask, personal hygiene."

The governor has been an opponent of a statewide mask order and has appeared without a mask at several Republican Party campaign events across the state.

“You don’t need government to tell you to wear a dang mask,” Parson said at a Missouri Cattlemen’s Association steak fry in July. “If you want to wear a dang mask, wear a mask.”

State Auditor Nicole Galloway, who is seeking to take Parson's job in November, said in a statement that she wishes the governor and his wife a "full and safe recovery."

"This is a stark reminder that this virus can reach anyone, anywhere and that this pandemic is far from over," she continued. "We must all continue to do our part in preventing the spread of the virus by practicing social distancing, washing hands, and wearing a mask."

State health officials announced on Wednesday 1,580 new cases of the coronavirus and 83 more deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. Altogether, 116,946 Missourians have now been infected with the virus and 1,947 have died. New cases have been rising steadily since early August, and the statewide positive test rate is 11.4 percent, far higher than the 5 percent or less recommended by Johns Hopkins University.