Fallout has continued from a recent White House gathering amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. A ceremony was held for the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Several people who were present have since come down with COVID-19, including President Donald Trump, who has had to be hospitalized because of it. Many believe the novel Coronavirus spread among those attending the White House event.
Christie admitted to the hospital after testing positive
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has been diagnosed with COVID-19. He was one of the many guests at the White House Rose Garden ceremony to be so.
Shortly after, he was checked into a hospital.
Christie had begun showing signs of illness at that point. But according to CNN, his history of asthma was of particular concern. It was apparently the ultimate deciding factor in his hospitalization.
After visiting the White House, Christie continued to participate in Presidential debate preparation for the Trump campaign. Christie said afterward that nobody present while prepping was wearing a mask.
Christie's first elected position was a chosen freeholder of Morris County in northern New Jersey. He later served as the U.S. attorney of New Jersey under President George W. Bush. Christie was elected governor of New Jersey in 2009, defeating the Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine.
He became popular during his first term. Major issues included rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy. He won re-election in a landslide victory in 2013. His second term would be largely marred by controversy, including the so-called 'Bridgegate' scandal. And an attempt for the 2016 Republican Presidential nomination would be unsuccessful.
U.S. Senator Ron Johnson also diagnosed with COVID-19
Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin has also tested positive for COVID-19. According to Politico, he became the third U.S. senator in 24 hours to announce they'd tested positive. At least at first, Johnson has reportedly been asymptomatic.
Unlike the other two, Johnson wasn't at the White House for the event in question.
It has been speculated, though, that he could've been in contact with someone who was there. For his part, Johnson said he didn't know who he'd contracted the novel coronavirus from. After his announced diagnosis, it seemed that another senator had joined him in Rick Scott. Scott said he tested positive for COVID-19. But a staffer of his later claimed that the Florida U.S. senator 'misspoke'.
Johnson was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010 and re-elected in 2016. Since 2015, he has chaired the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.