Abbott gives update after COVID-19 diagnosis: "Right now I have no symptoms"

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Gov. Greg Abbott says he is not experiencing any symptoms after testing positive for COVID-19. | Twitter/Greg Abbott

Gov. Greg Abbott provided his Twitter followers with an update after testing positive for COVID-19.

Fox News reports that Abbott is fully vaccinated and has been slated to receive Regeneron's monoclonal antibody treatment.

"As you may have heard, I have COVID," Gov. Abbott said in an Aug. 17 tweet. "Right now I have no symptoms such as fever or aches and pains. Thanks for the well wishes from around the country. I will remain engaged every day to govern the great state of Texas. God bless you all, and God bless Texas."

Fox News reported that Abbott is fully vaccinated and has been slated to receive Regeneron's monoclonal antibody treatment.

"Governor Abbott is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, in good health, and currently experiencing no symptoms," Mark Miner, the governor's communications director, told Fox News. "Everyone that the governor has been in close contact with today has been notified. Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott tested negative."

Breakthrough infections – when a fully vaccinated person tests positive for COVID-19 – are possible but extremely rare, Fox News said. 

Click2Houston reported that Abbott issued an executive order in May stating that the state's schools can't require masks.

“Going forward, in Texas, there will not be any government-imposed shutdowns or mask mandates,” Abbott said, according to Click2Houston. “Everyone already knows what to do.”

Many lawmakers in the state have gone against Abbott's order. Click2Houston reported that Texas State Teachers Association President Ovidia Molina said in a statement that mask mandates should be under the discretion of the school districts.

"We are all working to protect Texas children and those most vulnerable among us, but violating the governor’s executive orders — and violating parental rights — is not the way to do it," Renae Eze, a spokesperson for Abbott, told Click2Houston. "Gov. Abbott has been clear that the time for mask mandates is over; now is the time for personal responsibility."