Whitmer again tests negative for COVID-19 after her husband tests positive

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer tested negative in a PCR test for COVID-19 Wednesday after her husband, Marc Mallory, tested positive on Tuesday. 

“Like many Michiganders in the past few weeks, my husband Mark has tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday after feeling a little under the weather. I just received my test results from a PCR and I’m currently negative,” Whitmer said in a video on Twitter Wednesday afternoon. “I know the rising cases have caused disruption for many Michigan families after we were all looking forward to a calmer holiday season this year.”

Whitmer tested negative with a rapid test Tuesday; however rapid tests are not as accurate as PCR tests, especially for asymptomatic people.

Sharing a quick update on my negative COVID-19 test results. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated and boosted, and continue wearing masks and testing. Stay safe, Michigan. We'll get through this together. pic.twitter.com/OfFOS0I5Nj

— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) January 5, 2022

“I’m thankful first and foremost that everyone in my family is fully vaccinated and boosted so that we will be safe from a severe case, including Mark, who currently only has cold-like symptoms,” Whitmer said. 

When the Advance asked Wednesday if Whitmer would test again today or this week, spokesperson Bobby Leddy said that the governor will continue her twice-per-week testing regimen. Leddy said Tuesday the governor was isolating in a separate part of the house until her PCR results came back. 

Cases are continuing to rise in Michigan as the highly transmissible omicron variant spreads. As of Monday, the state reported a total of 1,568,573 COVID-19 cases and 27,286 COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic — an additional 61,235 cases and 298 deaths since Thursday. The state reported an average of 12,247 cases each day since Thursday.

Whitmer urged Michiganders to get the vaccine, the booster and wear masks in public spaces. 

“This new variant is so contagious and boosters are keeping many Michiganders out of the hospital. I’m thankful for all the hospital teams that are taking care of people. Getting the vaccine and booster is the best way to protect yourself and your family and ease the burden on our hospitals,” Whitmer said.