THE LATEST: Chris Christie said he was ‘checking’ himself into the hospital after coronavirus test. Here’s how doctors say the system works.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie remains hospitalized at Morristown Medical Center, where he was admitted Saturday after testing positive COVID-19.
Christie’s current condition is not known. Hospital officials declined comment Tuesday.
The 58-year-old Mendham resident announced Saturday morning he tested positive for the the coronavirus, a day after President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump announced they had tested positive. Since then, more than a dozen of aides and officials in Trump’s circle tested positive as well.
Christie, who has struggled with his weight and has a lifelong history of asthma, tweeted that he checked himself into the hospital Saturday. Because of his conditions, he’s at higher risk of developing complications from the virus.
The former governor hasn’t shared what symptoms he has or how he’s being treated. He hasn’t tweeted since Saturday evening.
Star-Ledger columnist Tom Moran spoke on the phone with Christie on Monday. The ex-governor said King Abdullah of Jordan had called to wish him well, ribbing Moran, who had doubted their friendship in a 2012 column. Moran also wrote Christie sounded “raspy but didn’t cough once” during their 10-minute phone call, and that Christie would not discuss his condition.
Gov. Phil Murphy said during a television interview Monday he had “private communications” with Christie over the weekend, but he has “no insight” into his condition.
“He’s in our prayers, and he knows we’re here for him,” Murphy said.
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In the week before his positive COVID-19 test, Christie spent four days helping Trump prepare for the first presidential debate against former Vice President Joe Biden, often in a room with five or six people where no one wore masks. Christie — a longtime Trump friend and ally and fellow Republican — also attended the now-infamous Rose Garden ceremony where Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barett to the U.S. Supreme Court.
At least 10 others at the Rose Garden event on Sept. 28 have since tested positive, including New Jersey natives Kellyanne Conway, a former adviser to the president, and Bill Stepien, Trump’s campaign manager. Masks and social distancing were largely ignored at the ceremony, now feared to be a super spreader event.
Christie also visited ABC News' studios in New York City on Tuesday night for post-debate coverage. The network, which Christie is a paid political analyst for, has since ordered employees who were exposed to the virus to quarantine.
The former governor said in a tweet that he tested negative, as required, every day before heading to the White House last week but took another coronavirus test Friday after the news of Trump’s health came to light.
Trump announced he tested positive Thursday night and was taken to Walter Reed Medical Center in Maryland on Friday. He was returned to the White House on Monday evening and released a video saying he feels better than he has in 20 years and warning people not to let the virus “dominate your lives.”
Hours before Trump revealed he had tested positive for the virus — which has claimed the lives of 210,000 Americans — the president was at his Bedminster golf club Thursday for a fundraising event and roundtable with high-paying donors.
Christie said he wasn’t at the fundraiser, which was attended by 206 people. The state is already working to contact trace the attendees and 19 Trump National employees who worked the event.
Trump’s fundraiser has led to an uproar at a time when New Jersey has been dealing with spikes in new coronavirus cases, primarily in counties along the Jersey Shore. Murphy has called it “reckless.”
NJ Advance Media staff writer Susan K. Livio contributed to this report.
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Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at [email protected]. Follow her at @snietomunoz.
Brent Johnson may be reached at [email protected].
Matt Arco may be reached at [email protected].
Corpse666 on October 7th, 2020 at 14:40 UTC »
It’s annoying because we are told do not go to the hospital unless it’s something you cannot manage at home and all of these rich politicians go as a precaution? How does that make any sense?
Armand74 on October 7th, 2020 at 14:39 UTC »
Let’s all remember that this was the same person who stated that people will just have to accept the high deaths caused by COVID19. He’s now I’m sure in fear for his life and rightfully so.. He’s also a fucking hypocrite.
bluevegas1966 on October 7th, 2020 at 12:50 UTC »
I just can’t grasp why someone with his health history (obesity and asthma, and not sure what else) wouldn’t have been super careful to NOT contract Covid. They truly believe this isn’t a big deal don’t they?