Attendee at Chattanooga GOP event tests positive for COVID-19

Last weekend’s Hamilton County Lincoln Day dinner has proven to be the source of much intrigue over the veracity of its straw poll, because Senate candidates weren’t wearing masks, and due to allegations of the strategic deployment of campaign workers wearing short skirts. Now, the Hamilton County Health Department is urging anyone who was there to get tested for COVID-19 after someone who attended tested positive.

“We know that COVID-19 is highly contagious and can spread easily at large gatherings,” Health Department Administrator Becky Barnes said in a release. “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.”

Bill Hagerty and Manny Sethi, the leading candidates for the GOP nomination to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, both attended.

Here’s what Sethi had to say:

After hearing the news this afternoon that a Hamilton GOP Dinner attendee has tested positive for COVID, I’ll be going to get tested out of an abundance of caution. I encourage @BillHagertyTN to go do the same, along with any others who think they may have been exposed.

— Dr. Manny For Senate (@DrMannySenate) August 5, 2020

And here’s what the Hagerty camp told  told WCRB-TV:

As Election Day quickly approaches, we are focused on sharing Bill’s positive conservative message with Tennessee voters. They’re tired of mandates and being told what to do by the government. Bill trusts the good people of Tennessee to make the right decisions for themselves.

Like @DrMannySenate, @BillHagertyTN now says on @Hallerin's radio show he got tested for COVID-19 out of an abundance of caution

— Joel Ebert (@joelebert29) August 5, 2020

Meanwhile, Democratic Senate candidate James Mackler wasn’t impressed.

#COVID19 is real and serious. It's taken the lives of 1,144+ Tennesseans — our family, friends and neighbors. Real leaders don't put their own political gain ahead of the health/safety of those they seek to serve. Fight back to #FlipTheSenate and #TNsen ⬇️ https://t.co/37dFUFfN9e https://t.co/bXSyydn7I5 pic.twitter.com/x5wvPczfK5

— James Mackler (@James_Mackler) August 5, 2020