The Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago has reportedly become a hotspot for a COVID-19 outbreak, as several attendees have tested positive for the virus following the four-day event. Held from August 19 to 22, the convention was the first large-scale, in-person DNC gathering since 2016, after the 2020 convention was conducted virtually due to the pandemic.
The event, which celebrated Senator Kamala Harris’s nomination as the Democratic presidential candidate alongside her running mate, Tim Walz, saw thousands of attendees, including politicians, reporters, and family members, congregate at the Chicago venue. According to the New York Post, multiple guests tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after the event concluded.
Reports indicate that health officials are concerned about a potential surge in COVID-19 infections nationwide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of August 16, 2024, infections are likely increasing in 27 states, with COVID-19-related deaths on the rise since June, though still below pandemic levels.
Social media has been abuzz with accounts from attendees who believe they contracted the virus at the convention. Christopher Wiggins, a reporter, tweeted, “When you spend five days in Chicago for the DNC and come home with COVID-19. Womp womp.” Human rights lawyer Yasmine Taeb shared a similar experience, writing, “Indeed. I arrived at the DNC healthy and hopeful and left very sick and disillusioned.”
Criticism has mounted regarding the lack of strict health protocols at the event, with some attendees noting that few people were wearing masks. Many on social media have criticized the Democratic Party for not enforcing stringent health guidelines, contrasting the event with recent Republican gatherings, where stricter measures were reportedly in place.
Amid ongoing concerns over other respiratory diseases like Monkeypox and influenza, the DNC’s COVID-19 outbreak has drawn sharp reactions online. A user commented on X (formerly Twitter), “In a completely predictable turn of events attendees of the DNC Convention are now coming down with COVID-19. Of course, the most vaccinated people on the planet turned into super spreaders.”
As positive cases among DNC attendees continue to surface, the extent of the outbreak remains uncertain. However, the situation highlights the ongoing challenges of managing public health in large gatherings amid fluctuating COVID-19 infection rates.
