NC Gov. Roy Cooper announces his coronavirus test results
North Carolina governor Roy Cooper tested negative for the coronavirus, he announced on social media Thursday afternoon.
“My COVID-19 test results have come back negative, and I have had no symptoms,” Cooper tweeted. “I encourage anyone who has been in a crowd to get tested even if you have no symptoms. “
His tweet comes after thousands across the state have been protesting the death of George Floyd, who was killed May 25 after police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
The protests began on May 30, and have occurred every day since then. Other groups, including ReOpenNC, have also protested in recent months. Many of the people in those groups did not wear masks.
Cooper briefly joined George Floyd marchers on June 1 — the third night of Raleigh protests — outside the Governor’s Mansion. He partially removed his mask to say “thank you” to protesters before entering the gates of the residence, The News & Observer previously reported.
Cooper and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen have encouraged those who have been at protests or at mass gatherings — like those at Ace Speedway — to get tested. A list of testing sites can be found at covid19.ncdhhs.gov.
The owner-operators of the speedway, which is in Alamance County, have defied the governor’s orders to limit mass gatherings, by hosting races with hundreds of people in seats.
Cohen sued Ace Speedway and its owner-operators Robert and Jason Turner this week and sought a temporary restraining order to stop racing on the Alamance County track.
That request was granted.
NC DHHS reported 1,310 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, bring the state’s total to 39,481 cases.
This story was originally published June 11, 2020 at 3:18 PM.
