CHARLESTON, WV (AP) — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice tested positive for the coronavirus Tuesday, hours after meeting with West Virginia University athletic director Ren Baker and Hall of Famer basketball coach Bob Huggins, the governor’s office said.
It was the second time a Republican governor has tested positive for COVID-19, after testing positive in January 2022, which forced him to delay his annual State of the Union Address.
Fully vaccinated and boosted against the virus, Justice, 71, suddenly developed mild symptoms. He was in isolation at home and under the supervision of several doctors, the governor said in a statement.
Anyone who has been in close contact with Justice in the past few days is being notified, the statement said.
State legislators honored Huggins with quotations on the floor of the Senate and House of Delegates. Huggins and Baker met with Justice separately in the governor’s office.
Huggins was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last year.
West Virginia plays #14 TCU in Morgantown on Wednesday night.
After meeting with Justice, Huggins was observed for any symptoms. WVU athletics spokesman Brian Messerly said in an email that testing will be done according to school protocols for his exposure level, noting that Huggins has been fully vaccinated and boosted.
The statement said Justice has contacted his chief of staff and office staff to ensure the smooth running of the state government.
After contracting COVID-19 a year ago, Justice resumed his briefings on the virus a week later. Justice developed a headache and a high fever and received monoclonal antibody treatment as recommended by his doctor.
