The Democratic convention’s surprise guest: Covid

CHICAGO — They came hoping for Beyoncé. They left with Covid. 

Fresh off of a jam-packed week of Democratic National Convention events, reports of attendees’ testing positive for Covid are rolling in. 

They include members of Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign staff, who are now contending with sickness from Covid, according to two sources close to the campaign with knowledge of the cases. There is at least some concern the developments could affect staffing at events this week, they added.

One of the sources said that so far, the aides’ symptoms they’ve heard about have been mild, and a third person close to the campaign said there was no concern about staffing the events.

Since the convention wrapped up Thursday, various attendees and reporters have posted photos of positive Covid results. 

“You put 20,000 people in an 18,000-person building, it’s bound to happen,” said Jaimey Sexton, a Chicago political consultant who attended the convention and was involved in multiple related events. Sexton said he knew of people who now have Covid from the convention and has heard of even more anecdotally. “You could ask anybody who was planning an event, they know somebody who has Covid,” he said. 

The convention had overflow crowds at the United Center each day, particularly Thursday, the night Harris delivered her acceptance remarks. Before 8 p.m. that evening, organizers announced the venue would be closed off because it was at capacity.

There was much buzz that night that a surprise guest was to take the stage and make a big splash. Rumors were rampant even before that night that pop star Beyoncé was to appear. Harris has tapped Beyoncé’s hit “Freedom” as a theme song for her candidacy. At one point, TMZ reported the Beyoncé rumors were true — only to then retract the story.   

“Maybe the DNC surprise was the COVID we got along the way,” NewsNation reporter Kellie Meyer posted on X, alongside a photo of a positive Covid test result. 

In 2020 — before a vaccine was available — Democrats canceled their in-person convention because of Covid. There were no health-related requirements for attendees, including testing or wearing of masks, before last week’s convention.  

Experts have detected a rise in cases this summer and even warned of one of the most severe summer waves yet, mirroring a worldwide surge in infections.

Spokespeople for the Harris campaign and the Democratic convention spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.