MS governor Tate Reeves, family receive their COVID-19 tests results, he announces

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced Tuesday morning on Twitter that he and his family have tested negative for COVID-19.

Reeves told Mississippians on Monday during a Facebook Live appearance that he and his family — wife Elee and three daughters — had been tested for the novel coronanvirus after he had been around at least one legislator who has COVID-19.

Reeves said a number of legislators have tested positive for the virus. They include House Speaker Philip Gunn, who stood over Reeves’ shoulder on the evening of June 30, when the governor signed historic legislation retiring the state flag with its Confederate battle emblem.

Gunn has said that he, too, is in self-isolation, although he was not experiencing serious symptoms.

Reeves, who has been photographed in public without a mask on numerous occasions, wrote on Twitter:

“My girls and I tested negative for COVID-19. Limited contact with the people who were diagnosed, but better safe than sorry! If someone you know gets the virus, get a test!”

This story was originally published July 7, 2020 at 9:04 AM.

Anita Lee

Sun Herald

601-909-0638

Anita, a Mississippi native, graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and previously worked at the Jackson Daily News and Virginian-Pilot, joining the Sun Herald in 1987. She specializes in in-depth coverage of government, public corruption, transparency and courts. She has won state, regional and national journalism awards, most notably contributing to Hurricane Katrina coverage awarded the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in Public Service. Support my work with a digital subscription