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Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott, whose handling of the pandemic in his state has drawn widespread criticism, has come under even more intense scrutiny since testing positive for the virus on Tuesday.
And now, prominent ICU doctor and NBC medical news analyst Vin Gupta is calling out the governor's response to his own diagnosis in a tweet, seen below.
After repeatedly downplaying the virus and actively thwarting efforts to contain the pandemic in his state, the fully vaccinated governor has demanded and received the most aggressive treatment available--despite having an asymptomatic case of the virus.
Quickly getting access to monoclonal antibody therapy when you\u2019re the fully vaccinated, asymptomatic Governor of Texas shows just how anxious and scared @GregAbbott_TX actually is of a virus that he constantly downplays. \n\nHope Texans take note.— Dr. Vin Gupta (@Dr. Vin Gupta) 1629242550
In his tweet, Gupta issued a pointed warning to Texans of every stripe as he called out the blasé governor's "anxious and scared" response to his own diagnosis.
"Quickly getting access to monoclonal antibody therapy when you're the fully vaccinated, asymptomatic Governor of Texas shows just how anxious and scared @GregAbbott_TX actually is of a virus that he constantly downplays."
"Hope Texans take note."
Abbott recently banned mask and vaccine mandates despite soaring case loads and several hospital systems in Texas being close to collapse, even going so far as to go to court to ensure the bans pass.
In addition to his ban on mask and vaccines mandates, Abbott also signed an executive order last month to combat Texas's skyrocketing virus case numbers by cracking down on illegal immigrants supposedly bringing the virus over the border, a popular right-wing conspiracy theory with no factual basis.
Even if the theory were true, Abbott's executive order, which is illegal under federal law, comes just months after Abbott rejected federal aid from the Biden Administration aimed at providing testing for migrants at the Texas-Mexico border.
Meanwhile, Abbott, who was photographed at a crowded Republican event without a mask less than 24 hours before his diagnosis, has reportedly told friends he has received a third dose of the vaccine. Texas's vaccination rate lags well behind the national average.
As Gupta rightly pointed out, Abbott's response to his own diagnosis bears no resemblance to the way he has handled the pandemic in Texas, and Gupta's words inspired no shortage of outrage towards the governor.
I\u2019m in Texas, and my dad, a cancer patient, has tested positive and can\u2019t get the therapy until Friday - one week after he first developed symptoms. It isn\u2019t sitting well with me that Abbott has immediate access when he is partially responsible for this situation.— Shannon Cottongame (@Shannon Cottongame) 1629244878
Actually, what struck me the hardest is the fact that he gets tested DAILY. That smacks of fear.— Nancy Cunningham (@Nancy Cunningham) 1629243134
I've taken note! In North Texas, there are no available beds in any pediatric ICUs. (Paraphrasing) "If you bring your child to the ER, you'll have to wait until someone else's child dies." But no mask mandate in Texas schools.— \ud83d\udc1e\ud83d\udc1e\ud83d\udc1e Gypsy Girl \ud83d\udc1e\ud83d\udc1e\ud83d\udc1e (@\ud83d\udc1e\ud83d\udc1e\ud83d\udc1e Gypsy Girl \ud83d\udc1e\ud83d\udc1e\ud83d\udc1e) 1629265721
my 45 year old daughter, breakthrough Covid, totally bedridden did NOT qualify for this therapy! I thought there were strict criteria to get it!! Privilege! Not fair! She has been sick for two weeks. Has to take unpaid leave! What gives!!!— Carol Bloswick (@Carol Bloswick) 1629246316
If you have a family member ill, hospitalized, or who succumbed to covid in Texas. Your relative is not going to get Regeneron. If you have a school age child who attends school maskless & becomes ill like @GovAbbott , they will not get Regeneron #TexasCOVID #TexasDeservesBetter— Patmbarr (@Patmbarr) 1629250562
Is he scared?\nOr is he promoting the hell out of Regeneron?\n"See everyone? You can get Covid-19...it's ok, throw away those masks. We have a very expensive treatment for you, just in case!"\nAbsolutely disgusting!— lauren girard (@lauren girard) 1629244356
Here's the overwhelming question. 45 purchased these 01/12/21 knowing vaccines were being used. Where are they all? Who's decision is it regarding which patients are eligible? Who's overseeing this goldmine? BTW- 45 & family have Regeneron stock. #TrumpFamilyFelons #GQPGrifterspic.twitter.com/4ElTGWX51n— Susan LaDuke (@Susan LaDuke) 1629254853
#GregAbbott is sending non-vaccinated kids into small classrooms where mask wearing is optional exposing teachers, students and staff to a deadly virus. They will not receive monoclonal antibody therapy even if they end up in the hospital.— EvaEsp (@EvaEsp) 1629248472
The Governor not only was fully vaccinated he got the 3rd shot as soon as he could. No telling what variant he tested positive for. All the while refusing to let Texas children even wear a mask.— Phyllis Anne (@Phyllis Anne) 1629259002
Why do I have to stop at red lights? It should be my personal choice. Why do I have to wear clothes to work, school, church or in public? It should be my personal choice. We need to MANDATE masks just like we CAN MANDATE OTHER ITEMS OF CLOTHES FOR CHRISSAKES!— chaplinlives (@chaplinlives) 1629292009
Texas is among the hardest-hit areas in the U.S. as the Delta variant continues to surge, with hospitals statewide reporting they are running out of ICU beds.