Several attendees at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago have tested positive for COVID-19, sparking concerns as the event marked the party’s first major in-person gathering since the pandemic began. Christopher Wiggins, a reporter for The Advocate, shared his diagnosis on social media, stating, “When you spend five days in Chicago for the DNC and come home with COVID-19. Womp womp.”
Wiggins wasn’t the only one to express frustration. Human rights lawyer Yasmine Taeb also posted her dismay, sharing a picture of a positive COVID-19 test alongside the caption, “I arrived at the DNC healthy and hopeful and left very sick and disillusioned.” The spread of COVID-19 among DNC attendees highlights the risks still associated with large-scale gatherings.
Fred Wellman, host of the “On Democracy Pod,” joined in, humorously noting, “I brought home so much sweet swag from the DNC… and COVID! SWEET!” While some participants wore masks during the convention, the majority did not, reflecting the relaxed approach to pandemic precautions that many have adopted.
The event was the Democrats’ first in-person convention since 2016, with the 2020 gathering going virtual due to the pandemic. As more attendees share their experiences, the situation raises questions about whether adequate health precautions were in place. With COVID-19 cases continuing to emerge, the DNC’s return to normalcy comes with lingering concerns about the potential spread of the virus at large gatherings.
