Christie among GOP wave struck by virus

The White House coronavirus outbreak took a toll on the GOP on Saturday.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was hospitalized after testing positive on Saturday.

“I am positive for COVID-19,” Christie tweeted. “I want to thank all of my friends and colleagues who have reached out to ask how I was feeling in the last day or two.”

Christie, who is 58, was suffering from a fever and flu-like symptoms. He is seriously overweight and has asthma, factors that contribute to poor outcomes i n coronavirus patient.

Christie (photo) told CNN that he drove himself to the hospital and was being treated with remdesivir, a promising therapeutic for COVID-19.

Christie has had extensive contact in recent days with President Trump, who was diagnosed with coronavirus late Thursday night.

The former New Jersey governor played the role of Joe Biden in Trump’s debate preparation before the showdown on Tuesday. He also attended the rollout of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett at the White House last Saturday.

Invited guests at the Barrett event sat closely together, with few masks in evidence, in the Rose Garden. Some were invited to a later smaller event inside the White House.

Also on Saturday, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) became the third Republican senator in two days to report a positive COVID-19 test.

Johnson, who was not at the Barrett event, says he took a COVID test after coming into contact with another unidentified person who tested positive earlier.

Two of Johnson’s Senate Republican colleagues, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), tested positive on Friday.

Lee says he is experiencing mild symptoms while Tillis and Johnson say they haven’t experienced any symptoms at all.

All three senators say they will quarantine for at least 10 days.

Their positive test results could put the controversial nomination of Barrett in danger, although Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (RKy.) vowed to push ahead with approving her before Election Day

Vice President Mike Pence tested negative on Saturday, as did his wife Karen Pence.

Pence says he won’t go into quarantine despite guidelines that say anyone who has been in close contact with an infected person should do so.

Trump aide Kellyanne Conway, campaign chief Bill Stepien and Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced they tested positive late Friday.

The president of the University of Notre Dame, who attended the Barrett event because she teaches law there, also tested positive. The Rev. John Jenkins apologized to the university community for flouting health rules by refusing to wear a mask at the event.

Ex-mayor Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal lawyer who was also part of the debate prep, had not announced any test results as of Saturday afternoon. Other GOP bigwigs announced negative test results, including Sen. Rick Scott (RFla.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (RTex.)