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North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday that his test for COVID-19 came back negative.

Cooper said at a media briefing earlier this week he would get tested.

His decision came with the release of new guidance from state health officials to medical providers recommending testing for people who had attended protests, rallies or other mass gatherings. The Democratic governor participated briefly in a racial justice demonstration outside the Executive Mansion last week.

“My COVID-19 test results have come back negative, and I have had no symptoms,” Cooper wrote on Twitter. “I encourage anyone who has been in a crowd to get tested even if you have no symptoms.” He provided an online link to locate testing sites across North Carolina.

North Carolina health officials reported nearly 39,500 positive COVID-19 cases as of Thursday morning, an increase of 1,300 compared to Wednesday’s totals. The state reached yet another record number of virus-related hospitalizations at over 800, while more than 1,060 people have died.

The number of completed tests statewide now exceeds 572,600.

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