Missouri Governor And Wife To Host Fall Festival Days After COVID Diagnosis

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Gov. Mike Parson and his wife, Teresa, share a kiss after he was sworn in as Missouri’s 57th governor in 2018.

Jeff Roberson/AP

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Jeff Roberson/AP

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Missouri Governor And Wife Test Positive For The Coronavirus

Gov. Parson, who is up for reelection, has come under fire from critics and his own public health officials for regularly eschewing medical advice — choosing not to wear a face covering at public events and campaign rallies. And on multiple occasions, he has been photographed failing to maintain a 6-foot distance from constituents.

He was also lambasted after he downplayed the risks Missouri children would face upon returning to school amid the pandemic.

Noting that children are less likely to contract the coronavirus, he said, «If they do get COVID-19, which they will — and they will when they go to school — they’re not going to the hospitals. They’re not going to have to sit in doctors’ offices. They’re going to go home and they’re going to get over it.»

«We gotta move on,» he continued.

As of Wednesday, the governor said he and the first lady «are both fine» and that he is not suffering any symptoms related to COVID-19.

State officials have confirmed 120,298 cases of coronavirus since the start of the pandemic and 1,994 deaths. In the last 24 hours, 1,987 new cases and 42 deaths were reported. The average age of a COVID-19 patient is 42.

• Gov. Mike Parson
• coronavirus
• Missouri