Mississippi’s lieutenant governor tests positive for coronavirus

Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann (R) has tested positive for the coronavirus, staff members confirmed to several local media outlets.

“Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann has informed members of the Senate he tested positive for COVID-19 and will follow State Health Department guidelines by self-quarantining and working at home,” Leah Rupp Smith, Hosemann’s deputy chief of staff, told the Clarion Ledger.

Gov. Tate Reeves (R) announced earlier Tuesday that he and his daughters tested negative for the virus. 

My girls and I tested negative for COVID-19. Limited contact with the people who were diagnosed, but better safe than sorry! If someone you know gets the virus, get a test! Back with a 2:30 briefing tomorrow.

— Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) July 7, 2020

Hosemann’s office did not immediately respond to an inquiry from The Hill. 

State House Speaker Philip Gunn (R) announced on Sunday that he tested positive for the virus, along with another member of the Mississippi legislature, whom he didn’t identify.

“We need to make sure that we do everything we can to get this past us as quickly as possible,” Gunn said.

Gunn’s diagnosis comes after Mississippi lawmakers met for much of June, not always following the guidance of public health officials such as wearing masks and not sitting in close proximity, as they discussed the ultimately successful proposal to remove the Confederate battle flag from the state flag.

As of Tuesday, 31,028 people have tested positive for the virus and 1,096 have died in the state, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health.