CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has COVID-19.
Morrisey, 52, tweeted about his medical condition Monday evening.
“Fellow West Virginians, last week I was diagnosed with COVID-19 and pneumonia. I am currently quarantining at home, where I am receiving breathing and medical treatments,” Morrisey said. “I am feeling better today, and as such I am busy working from home. Make no mistake about it, this can be a nasty virus, especially for those who are elderly or may be immunocompromised.”
Morrisey is one of more than 19,000 active COVID-19 cases in the state.
The two-term attorney general had a back and forth last month with Gov. Jim Justice about prosecuting those who don’t abide by Justice’s mask mandate.
Morrisey posted a response on Facebook to Justice saying he does not have the authority to criminally charge people, noting the attorney general’s office will ensure “no one impinges upon our constitutionally protected freedoms.”
“During this pandemic, I will continue to ensure that any efforts to use the criminal code for any purpose are not applied in an arbitrary, improper, or heavy handed manner,” Morrisey posted. “Let’s be clear: no one is going to send people to jail and that simply should not be occurring with respect to the Governor’s executive orders.”
Justice initially said he was “saddened” by the post.
The controversy faded after a few days.
Monday evening Morrisey, who was recently elected to a third four-year term in office, told West Virginians to “keep the faith.”
“As your attorney general, I’m excited to continue fighting to protect our jobs, to keep our people safe and to uphold our constitutional rights. I hope to be back in the office in the very near future,” Morrisey said.