The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
April 7, 2022

Top Democrats Test Positive for Coronavirus After Elite D.C. Party
------------------------------------------------------------------

A growing number of journalists and prominent Democrats have tested
positive for coronavirus after a Saturday night dinner party at the
elite Gridiron Club in Washington, D.C., turned into a superspreader
event. On Wednesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced a
positive test result just hours after he wrapped up a news conference
with FBI Director Christopher Wray and other top-ranking Justice
Department officials. Also testing positive: Commerce Secretary Gina
Raimondo; Jamal Simmons, communications director for Vice President
Harris; and Congressmembers Joaquin Castro and Adam Schiff. Attendees at
Saturday's dinner needed to show proof of vaccination but were not
required to provide a negative COVID test.

Meanwhile, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy appeared in public Wednesday
for the first time in five days after isolating at home with COVID-19.
Murphy, who narrowly defeated a Republican challenger to win reelection
last November, was one of the first Democratic governors to urge a
rollback of mask mandates and other pandemic health measures.


.