Maine lawmaker who opposed coronavirus restrictions reportedly COVID-19

Representative Chris Johansen, a Republican lawmaker from the town of Monticello, Aroostook County, who has been a vocal opponent of the coronavirus restrictions, is said to have contracted COVID-19.

In a recording shared by Mainer News contributor Crash Barry, a man presumed to be Johansen said: ‘Look, I have COVID and I’m really, really sick and I just don’t have time to talk to you today’ hui. “

Contacted by the Bangor Daily News on Friday, Johansen said “I’m not speaking” and hung up the phone.

“We do not respond or comment to the press on the health of our members or staff, preferring instead to honor their privacy. We are always open to comment on matters of legislative policy and / or legislative procedure if the press chooses to cover this, ”said Kathleen Dillingham, spokesperson and minority House leader.

The lawmaker’s wife Cindy Johansen, who is the corresponding secretary-officer for the Republicans in Aroostook County, shared on social media that she was sick with COVID-19.

Neither Chris Johansen nor his wife have been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Cindy Johansen posted on her Facebook on July 16 that she was not feeling well. “I feel like I’m going to pass out. I passed out on the garage floor, the legs were like rubber, ”she said.

On July 21, she posted that she had been diagnosed with “covid and asthma”. She shared that it was “horrible to be alone” and that she was “moving on to day three,” an allusion to the isolation required of COVID-19 patients who have been admitted to a hospital.

Chris Johansen has been a vocal opponent of state restrictions on coronaviruses and has organized several protests. In April 2020, he organized a expression outside Blaine House calling on Democratic Governor Janet Mills to reopen the state’s economy, while minimizing the damage the spread of COVID-19 would have on communities across the country.

A second protest organized later this month flouted the meeting restrictions in the event of a pandemic.

Johansen was also one of the seven lawmakers who refused to wear masks at Maine State House, a requirement that was left in place even after the state’s mask mandate was lifted as coronavirus vaccination rates began to improve statewide. Johansen was subsequently removed from his position on the committee, but continued to push back against the rules of the State House.

BDN writer Caitlin Andrews contributed to this report.

This story appears thanks to a media partnership with the Bangor Daily News.