The Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago has been followed by a wave of COVID-19 cases among attendees, reminding the public of the ongoing risks associated with large in-person events. Reporter Christopher Wiggins of The Advocate was one of the first to announce his positive diagnosis on social media, noting, “When you spend five days in Chicago for the DNC and come home with COVID-19.”
Other attendees quickly followed suit in sharing their experiences. Human rights lawyer Yasmine Taeb expressed her frustration, writing, “I arrived at the DNC healthy and hopeful and left very sick and disillusioned,” alongside a photo of her positive COVID-19 test. Fred Wellman, host of “On Democracy Pod,” added a dose of humor to the situation, posting, “I brought home so much sweet swag from the DNC… and COVID! SWEET!”
The convention was the Democrats’ first major in-person gathering since 2016, after the 2020 event was held virtually due to the pandemic. While some participants were seen wearing masks, the majority opted not to, leading to increased concerns about the spread of the virus.
As more cases are reported, the incident serves as a reminder that despite the desire for normalcy, the COVID-19 pandemic still lingers. The DNC’s return to in-person events may signal a shift toward traditional gatherings, but the risks highlighted by this outbreak will likely influence how future political events are planned and executed.
