Multiple attendees at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last week have tested positive for COVID-19, leading to concerns about a potential spike in infections across the country. Some individuals took to social media to share their experiences, with one person joking about bringing home COVID-19 along with convention swag. The exact extent of the virus at the convention is not clear, but tens of thousands of people attended the four-day gathering.
This convention marked the Democrats’ first major in-person party event since 2016, as their 2020 convention had to go virtual due to the pandemic. Despite the ongoing threat of COVID-19, many convention attendees were not wearing face masks, although a few were seen taking precautions. Unlike the Republican National Convention, which faced pushback over mask mandates, the Democrats did not implement strict virus suppression measures, leading to criticism from some progressives who felt it was irresponsible to not prioritize safety at the event.
There were complaints on social media from individuals expressing concern over the lack of mitigation efforts at the convention when COVID-19 cases were still on the rise. Some criticized the Democratic Party for not taking necessary precautions and jeopardizing the health of engaged Democrats who attended the event. With COVID-19 deaths increasing across the country since June and testing remaining relatively low, there were worries about potential super-spreader events like the convention exacerbating the situation.
In response to the apparent spread of COVID-19 at the convention, the Food and Drug Administration approved new mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna to combat the KP.2 variant ahead of the winter season. Despite the ongoing pandemic and rising cases, the Democratic National Convention proceeded without strict virus suppression measures in place, leading to criticism from individuals concerned about the health and safety of attendees. The situation serves as a reminder of the importance of taking precautions and following guidelines to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in large gatherings.
