MS Governor Tate Reeves tests negative for COVID-19 after meeting with Trump, Pence
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has announced on Twitter that he tested negative Friday afternoon for COVID-19 after a gathering Monday in Washington with President Trump, who has the virus.
Monday’s event was held outdoors in the Rose Garden. Neither Reeves nor Trump wore masks when they spoke at a distance considered safe during the event that highlighted expansion of COVID-19 testing.
Reeves’ office did not respond to an email Friday morning from the Sun Herald asking about his meetings with Trump and another indoor meeting with Vice President Mike Pence and others who were not wearing masks.
But Reeves tweeted Friday afternoon: “Many thanks to all of you who reached out after this morning’s news knowing that I visited the White House earlier this week. Tested negative this afternoon— just wanted to be sure...Better safe than sorry! Please keep America’s first family in your prayers!
He told conservative blog Y’all Politics on Friday morning during a video interview, “I feel fine right now, I feel great and don’t have any reason to believe that under current protocols that it would be necessary for me to self-quarantine.”
The governor and his family previously tested negative for the virus after a close call this summer when the pandemic hit Mississippi legislators with whom Reeves had been in contact without masks.
“We’re incredibly lucky to have President Trump leading this pandemic response,” Reeves began a Facebook post with video from his Monday speech with Trump in the Rose Garden.
While in Washington, Reeves also was at an indoor meeting with Pence and other officials as they talked by conference call with other governors about COVID-19 testing. Few, including Pence and Reeves, were wearing masks, photos show.
Pence and his wife have tested negative for COVID-19, a spokesman for his office said Friday.
Reeves announced on Wednesday an end to the statewide mask mandate, with limited exceptions, as President Trump sought to downplay COVID-19 during his campaign for re-election.
Trump said during the presidential debate Tuesday night with Joe Biden that his top health officer, Anthony Fauci, has offered contradictory advice on masks.
Trump often chooses to go without a mask and they have been widely eschewed by supporters at his campaign rallies, including Herb Cain, who died of COVID-19 after attending one of those events.
Reeves has advocated masks for Mississipians but does not always wear one himself.
Friday morning, Reeves asked Mississippians on Twitter to pray for Trump and first lady Melania Trump, who also is COVID-19 positive.
“In Mississippi, we know the power of prayer,” Reeves tweeted. “We know that it is real, and that God heals. Let’s get a prayer team going for the President as he leads the country even while sick!”
This story was originally published October 2, 2020 at 10:32 AM.
