The re-election bid of Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is still in quarantine after reportedly testing positive – and then negative – for COVID-19, has been endorsed by the Texas Health Care Association PAC.
The voluntary nonprofit's endorsement was announced on the Twitter page of Patrick's senior adviser Allen Blakemore.
"Lt. Gov. Patrick recognizes the vital role our long-term care facilities play in communities across the state," the news release said. "He is committed to ensuring our state's long-term care providers have all the resources to continue taking care of our senior Texans."
Blakemore's earlier news release announcing Patrick's quarantine no longer appears on his Twitter page but was picked up Monday, Jan. 3 by local news outlets, including KHOU 11 and The Texas Tribune.
"His symptoms were mild and no one else in the household was infected," Blakemore apparently said in the earlier news release. "He continues working from home and will return to a public schedule by the end of the week."
The earlier news release did not say when the Republican tested positive, nor why it wasn't disclosed earlier. He subsequently tested negative but will remain in quarantine through week's end anyway, according to KHOU's coverage.
Patrick's COVID test results were announced just as Texas was running out of sotrovimab, the only monoclonal antibody treatment known to be effective against the omicron variant, The Texas Tribune reported. Gov. Greg Abbott is seeking federal assistance for testing.
Patrick confirmed in a November Twitter post that he has been vaccinated but also applauded Texans for "blocking @JoeBiden vaccine mandate."
"I'm vaccinated and encourage others to do their own research," Patrick said in his Nov. 6 Twitter post. "The final decision MUST be left to the individual, NOT the government. It’s called #freedom. #txlege."
When Abbott tested positive for COVID in August, Patrick posted a statement to his own office's official website, saying he was sorry to hear it and that he and his wife, Jan, were praying for him.
"I’ve been in touch with Gov. Abbott and I stand ready to assist him in any way possible," Patrick said in the November news release.
While news releases on Abbott's official website currently don't mention Patrick's COVID test results, Abbott did announce on Tuesday, Jan. 4, his plans to sue the federal government "over its unconstitutional vaccine mandate" for Texas National Guard members.