Missouri Gov. Mike Parson tests positive for COVID-19, but has no symptoms

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the second governor in the United States to contract the disease as he campaigns for a full term in a race that has often centered on his response to the pandemic.

Parson, who turned 65 last week and had heart surgery four years ago, may be at heightened risk of falling severely ill, according to health guidance that says older adults and those with underlying conditions are more prone to intense symptoms.

The governor’s office announced his test result Wednesday afternoon, hours after revealing that first lady Teresa Parson had tested positive. A spokeswoman said the first lady was tested after developing mild symptoms, including a runny nose and cough.

“Right now I feel fine, no symptoms of any kind,” Parson said in a video posted to Facebook. “But right now, we just got to take the quarantine procedures in place.”

Parson has canceled his official appearances for the rest of the week. The Republican was set to debate his Democratic opponent, Auditor Nicole Galloway, in Columbia on Friday, but the event was called off.

Nearly 117,000 cases of the virus have been confirmed in Missouri. About 1,950 people have died. A White House report dated Sunday shows Missouri in a “red zone” for COVID-19 cases, with the fifth highest rate of cases per capita in the country last week. Recommendations in the report include statewide mask use and dramatically increased testing at universities.

The governor and first lady’s positive test set off an immediate effort to trace their contacts — a potentially extensive list given the governor’s public schedule. But Randall Williams, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, said the tracing is focused on identifying people who spent at least 15 minutes with the Parsons at a distance of 6 feet or less.

“Our preliminary information shows this will be a relatively small number of people,” Williams said.

Members of the governor’s staff have been tested and are awaiting results.

As recently as Tuesday, the Parsons were traveling together. The couple toured the new Payne’s Valley Golf Course near Branson, and a photo posted by the governor’s official Twitter account shows the two together without masks. Other photos show both of them wearing masks while speaking to others.

The event was attended by Tiger Woods, Bass Pro Shops CEO Johnny Morris and others. A representative of the golf course reached by phone said he couldnt’ speak on the matter.

On Saturday, Parson campaigned in Springfield with several Republican statewide officeholders, including Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick. A photo posted by Parson’s campaign shows the men together on stage without masks.

Since then, Kehoe has tested negative, his campaign said. Fitzpatrick and Schmitt also tested negative, their offices said. Asked whether Ashcroft planned on getting a test, the secretary of state’s office said “Ashcroft’s recent interactions with the Governor and First Lady fall well short of the ‘close contact’ threshold (within 6 feet for 15 minutes) as stated by Dr. Williams today.”

Parson has resisted issuing a mask order in sharp contrast to Galloway, who has promised to implement one if elected. During a call with reporters before the governor’s test results were announced, Galloway said Parson should have done more and should be doing more to protect residents.

“I wish Governor Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson a safe and full recovery. This is a stark reminder that this virus can reach anyone, anywhere and that this pandemic is far from over,” Galloway said later in a statement. “We must all continue to do our part in preventing the spread of the virus by practicing social distancing, washing hands, and wearing a mask.”

Parson’s campaign didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Asked about the possibility of a mask mandate, Williams encouraged the use of hand sanitizer and social distancing. He said masks should be worn if you can’t social distance.

“We just think if you’re too draconian everywhere, people really – it’s almost like it creates more problems than it solves,” Williams said.

Parson is the second governor known to have tested positive for COVID-19. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, contracted the virus in July. At the time, Stitt said he was self-quarantining.

President Donald Trump who had praised Parson on Twitter Tuesday for “doing an incredible job for Missouri,” brushed off a question about the Republican governor’s positive test during a Wednesday news conference.

“I didn’t know that,” Trump said when asked if he a comment on the new. “No.”

Trump had downplayed COVID-19 earlier in the week, saying at a Monday campaign rally in Ohio that the virus “affects virtually nobody.”

Republican Sen. Roy Blunt, the senior member of Missouri’s federal delegation, said on Twitter Wednesday evening that he looks forward to a quick recovery by the governor and his wife. Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, who represents Kansas City, said he would pray for the first couple that evening.

If Parson became seriously ill, the Missouri Constitution appears to contemplate that Kehoe could assume the powers of the governor temporarily.

“On the failure to qualify, absence from the state or other disability of the governor, the powers, duties and emoluments of the governor shall devolve upon the lieutenant governor for the remainder of the term or until the disability is removed,” the constitution says.

Parson’s office said in a statement that he continues to fulfill all his duties from the governor’s mansion, where he is isolating. Williams said the first lady is isolating in Bolivar.

Kelli Jones, a spokeswoman for the governor’s office, said Teresa Parson sought testing after showing “slight symptoms” on Wednesday morning.

“She just wanted to make sure to do what we ask people to do and she took a rapid test this morning and that result came back positive,” Jones said.

A rapid test came back positive and Gov. Parson was also tested via a rapid test, which came back positive. Later on Wednesday, a more-accurate PCR test also came back positive for the first lady. Parson’s PCR test results were expected Wednesday evening.

McClatchy’s Michael Wilner contributed to this report.