Chris Christie tests positive for COVID-19

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) announced on Saturday that he has tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the latest in President Donald Trump's inner circle to test positive for the coronavirus.

"I just received word that I am positive for COVID-19. I want to thank all of my friends and colleagues who have reached out to ask how I was feeling in the last day or two," Christie wrote on Twitter. "I will be receiving medical attention today and will keep the necessary folks apprised of my condition."

"I want to thank all who have called and texted in the last few hours to check on my health. I feel fine and have no symptoms," Christie tweeted on Friday before he knew he tested positive. "I was last tested for COVID on Tuesday (it was neg) and was tested this morning. No results until tomorrow. I will let you know the results from here."

The 58-year-old Christie is overweight, which "increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19," according to the CDC.

Last week, Christie interacted closely with Trump to help him prepare for the first presidential debate. On Friday, Christie admitted that none of the people involved with the debate prep were wearing face masks.

"No one was wearing masks in the room when we were prepping the president during that period of time," Christie said. "And the group was about five or six people, in total."

Trump's debate prep team reportedly included Christie, Hope Hicks, Kellyanne Conway, Rudy Giuliani, Jason Miller, Mark Meadows, Jared Kushner, Kayleigh McEnany, and Alyssa Farah.

Hicks, a senior White House adviser, announced she had tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. Hours later, Trump and first lady Melania Trump announced that they had tested positive for coronavirus.

Former counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway also announced that she had tested positive for the virus on Friday night, which was celebrated by liberals on social media. Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien also tested positive.

Christie along with many of Trump's orbit attended the White House event celebrating the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court last Saturday. Christie was not wearing a mask at the Rose Garden event that was attended by more than 150 people.

Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who both attended the White House event and are members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced they tested positive for coronavirus on Friday.

On Saturday, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) also announced that he too tested positive for the virus. He was not at the White House event last weekend.

Trump was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The president was taken to the hospital for precautionary care, and he is receiving an experimental antibody treatment from Regeneron.