NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — On the eve of Tennessee’s primary election, public health officials announced Wednesday that top Republican political candidates and others may have been recently exposed to COVID-19.
Hamilton County Health Department confirmed there was a virus exposure at a Lincoln Day Dinner the GOP held in Chattanooga on Friday.
County officials said an investigation showed that a person who attended the dinner was infected.
Senate GOP hopefuls Manny Sethi and Bill Hagerty were in attendance. The two were photographed not wearing masks while hugging and shaking hands with voters. Since then, they’ve continued to post photos from the campaign trail without masks and in close proximity to supporters who also are usually unmasked.
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Hagerty has tested negative for the coronavirus, campaign spokesperson Abigail Sigler said Wednesday.
Sethi tweeted Wednesday that he was also getting tested “out of an abundance of caution” and encouraged others to do the same if they thought they had been exposed.
Hamilton County, where Chattanooga is located, has a mask mandate in effect. However, it’s unclear how strictly the order is being enforced. Among those not wearing a mask at the dinner was Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond.
“We know that COVID-19 is highly contagious and can spread easily at large gatherings,” Health Department Administrator Becky Barnes said in a statement. “We recommend staying home if you are sick, practicing social distancing, wearing a mask, and washing your hands frequently to stop the spread of the virus in our community.”
The county also encouraged attendees of the Lincoln Day Dinner to get tested and monitor their symptoms.
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Officials: Popular Tennessee GOP event had virus exposure - Associated Press
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