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World / Americas

Oklahoma governor becomes first U.S. state governor to test positive for coronavirus

Published: 15 Jul 2020 - 07:28 pm | Last Updated: 05 Nov 2021 - 07:05 pm
Twitter: @GovStitt

Twitter: @GovStitt

Reuters

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announced on Wednesday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, believed to be the first governor of a U.S. state to do so.

Stitt disclosed his positive test results in a video conference call with reporters.

"I got tested yesterday for COVID-19 and the results came back positive," Stitt said. "I feel fine, I felt a little bit achy yesterday, I didn't have a fever."

Oklahoma's first-term Republican governor faced a backlash in recent days after posting on Twitter a picture of himself and two of his children at a crowded restaurant, as state health authorities urged social distancing to slow a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Though Stitt encourages Oklahomans to wear masks, he rarely wears one in public and has not issued a statewide mask mandate.

Stitt was one of the guests at President Donald Trump's rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 20.