Ex-governor Chris Christie hospitalized with coronavirus

Trump ally says move a precaution given history of asthma, hours after announcing diagnosis, as virus spreads through halls of power

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie says he has checked himself into a hospital, hours after he announced he had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Christie said that after consulting with his doctors, he went to Morristown Medical Center Saturday afternoon. He said he’s only experiencing mild symptoms.

“Due to my history of asthma, we decided this is an important precautionary measure,” he tweeted.

Christie is the latest in a string of virus cases connected to President Donald Trump’s inner circle.

In consultation with my doctors, I checked myself into Morristown Medical Center this afternoon. While I am feeling good and only have mild symptoms, due to my history of asthma we decided this is an important precautionary measure.

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— Chris Christie (@GovChristie) October 3, 2020

Christie, Trump’s former 2016 rival, told The Associated Press on Friday that the last time he was with the president was Tuesday during preparations for his debate with former Vice President Joe Biden in Cleveland.

Christie had tweeted Friday morning that he had last tested negative ahead of Tuesday’s debate and was not having any symptoms then.

This combination of file pictures created on October 3, 2020 shows (L-R, top to bottom) US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, on October 1, 2020; US First Lady Melania Trump in Washington, DC, on August 27, 2020; former communications director Hope Hicks in Washington, DC, o on March 29, 2018; US Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, in Washington, DC on December 13, 2018; Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway in Washington, DC on August 26, 2020; Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel in Washington, DC, on August 24, 2020; US Senator Thom Tillis, republican of North Carolina, in Aliaga, Turkey, on April 16, 2018;
US Senator Ron Johnson, Republican of Wisconsin, in Bratislava on May 27, 2017; Trump Campaign manager Bill Stepien aboard Air Force One on August 28, 2020. As of October 3, 2020, all nine have tested positive for Covid-19 in the last two days. (Photos by AFP)

Christie is the latest person who has been in close contact with the president recently to test positive for the virus. In addition to Trump and first lady Melania Trump, multiple people who have traveled with Trump or attended events with the president have contracted the virus over the last several days.