Ex-NJ Gov. Chris Christie In Op-Ed: 'Lucky To Be Alive'

NEW JERSEY — Former Gov. Chris Christie shared more of his experience battling COVID-19 in an op-ed piece submitted to the Wall Street Journal, where he told readers he was lucky to be alive and it was his own negligence that put his life at risk.

In his written piece, Christie said he was very careful about mask-wearing, social distancing and hand-washing. But at the Rose Garden nomination event for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, and during debate preparations with President Donald Trump, he let his guard down and left his mask off.

Christie also wrote that the media, religious leaders, sports figures, public servants and those in positions of authority have a duty to get the message out in terms of mask-wearing. You can read his full writing here.

Christie said earlier that his weeklong ICU stay at the Morristown Medical Center gave him time to think about his choices leading up to his COVID-19 diagnosis, and he came to a conclusion.

"I was wrong," Christie said in a statement released last week. "I was wrong to not wear a mask at the Amy Coney Barrett (Supreme Court nomination) announcement, and I was wrong not to wear a mask at my multiple debate prep sessions with the President and the rest of the team."

Christie said that, now that he's had the virus, he can be sure of a few things:

• It is something to take very seriously.
• The ramifications are wildly random and potentially deadly.
• No one should be happy to get the virus, and no one should be cavalier about being infected or infecting others.

Christie was one of the public officials connected to Trump to be hospitalized for the coronavirus. And medical professionals said "clinical judgment" factored into that decision.

Christie initially said he was feeling "good and only have mild symptoms," but he felt this was an "important precautionary measure" because of his history of asthma. In 2011, Christie was sent to Somerset Medical Center for tests after experiencing difficulty breathing while en route to a bill-signing ceremony.

Christie also helped Trump prepare for the president's debate with former Vice President Joe Biden several weeks ago.

Christie, a strong supporter of Trump since the former governor dropped out of the presidential race in 2016, has been critical of Gov. Phil Murphy's approach to the coronavirus. Christie has called on the governor to open up more of New Jersey's economy sooner and faster.

For his part, Murphy shared nothing but well-wishes for Christie when he took ill.

"He is a fighter," Murphy said. "Let there can be no doubt about it. He is the quintessential Jersey fighter."

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