A 58-year old asthmatic who has long struggled with his weight, Christie checked into Morristown Medical Center a week ago after learning that he had tested positive for COVID-19. The former New Jersey Governor took the test after spending several days at the White House helping President Donald J. Trump prepare for his widely panned debate performance with former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for president.

Trump also tested positive for COVID-19 as did numerous people around the president, including aide

Hope Hicks and Bridgegate-infamous Campaign Manager Bill Stepien.

Doctors gave Christie the anti-viral drug remdesivir, according to CNN, the same treatment that President Donald Trump was provided when hospitalized with Covid-19 at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

In response to the news, former Governor Dick Codey issued a statement.

“We are happy to hear that Governor Christie is feeling better and on the road to recovering,” Codey said “Mary Jo and I wish him the best as he returns home to his family.”

On Thursday, InsiderNJ columnist Fred Snowflack reported the following after Governor Phil Murphy, appearing at a War Memorial press conference, mentioned the hospitalized Christie:

“I exchanged notes with Governor Christie last night,” the governor said at his routine briefing. “I have no further insight.”

Christie has been in Morristown Memorial Hospital since last weekend, but little public information has been released about his condition. He is a private citizen, these days, but on the other hand, he’s also a former governor.

As is often the case, the lack of information has led to some irresponsible, and mindless, social media speculation that Christie may not be doing well.

On Wednesday, a close associate of the former governor said he’s doing fine and that he should be released from the hospital soon.

Murphy had no update on that, but he did say he’s confident his predecessor will beat the virus.

“He’s a fighter,” Murphy said of Christie. “Let there be no doubt about it. He is the quintessential New Jersey fighter.”

Christie may have been an interesting sideshow; the main point today was a sobering one – COVID cases are rising again.

Christie biographer Matt Katz of WNYC made clear in a tweet at midweek that Christie was not on a ventilator, contrary to loose information on social media.