Hotez on positive COVID-19 test: 'I'm grateful to have been vaccinated/boosted'

Dr. Peter Hotez, one of the leaders in the Houston medical community's fight against COVID-19, said on Monday (May 9) that he has tested positive for the illness but assured the public he's doing fine. 

"Looks like I've tested positive for COVID, moderate symptoms of fatigue, headache, sore throat, isolating at home doing zoom meetings," Hotez, the dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, said in a tweet. "I'm grateful to have been vaccinated/boosted, which certainly prevented more severe illness."

Hotez added that he started taking Paxlovid, a Pfizer manufactured pill, and advised citizens to "be careful" as "transmission(s) [are] up."

Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported that Hotez's positive test comes as the White House warned that as many as 100 million Americans could be infected with the coronavirus later this year as immunity begins to fade.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner took to Twitter to wish Hotez well on behalf of the city.

"The City of Houston extends our best wishes on your recovery back to full health Dr. @PeterHotez," Turner, who himself had a bout with COVID-19, tweeted. "We appreciate and (are) grateful (for) your guidance and all our health professionals over the course of this pandemic. Take care of yourself during this time."

According to the Houston Daily, Hotez, along with fellow physician and researcher Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi, are nominees for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize.

The pair were nominated in February by U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Houston) for their efforts during the pandemic, per the publication.