Journalists from Multiple Outlets Test Positive After the White House Correspondents’ Dinner

On April 30, the White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD) took place in the Washington Hilton ballroom. Over 2,000 attendees were at the event, mainly politicians, journalists, and celebrities. A few days after the event, staff from outlets such as ABC News, CNN, NBC News, CBS News, and Politico have all reported positive COVID test results.

The WHCA (White House Correspondents’ Association) required attendees to present their same-day negative COVID test to enter the dinner. Despite this measure to prevent the coronavirus, Dr. Anthony Fauci, a guest of ABC News at the event, still denied attendance.

One notable infection includes ABC New’s Jon Karl, who sat next to Kim Kardashian during the dinner, and shook hands with President Joe Biden. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has also contracted the coronavirus after attending the WHCD.

“It is my honor to be at the nation’s most distinguished superspreader event,” said Trevor Noah, the comedian host of this year’s WHCD, during his opening speech. “…did none of you learn anything from the Gridiron dinner?”

The Gridiron Club dinner took place on April 2 at the Renaissance Washington Hotel. This event, not dissimilar to the WHCD, featured a gathering of prominent figures in journalism and politics. This event has tallied more than 70 cases of COVID infections.

“These journalists and politicians are way too careless,” said Jacky H., a junior at AISG. “Even Dr. Fauci warned against crowding 2,000 people in a ballroom during this time. They still don’t listen for their own good.”

It is hard to pinpoint when and where the patients contracted the virus since the WHCD is a series of fetes in a week held by various news organizations and talent agencies. The main dinner took place at the Washington Hilton following decently strict measures, but the protocols followed by different events vary depending on its organizers.

“I just hope that those infected attendees recover soon,” said Olivia F., a freshman at AISG. “This pandemic will end sooner if we pay attention to following stricter protocols.”

As of now, no serious illness has been reported by the attendees of the WHCD.