State lawmaker who downplayed virus, mocked vaccines contracts COVID-19 Republican Rep. Chris Johansen told a reporter he had the virus despite publically trivializing the severity of the pandemic over the last year. Author: Zach Blanchard (NEWS CENTER Maine) Published: 11:32 PM EDT July 23, 2021 Updated: 12:08 AM EDT July 24, 2021 AUGUSTA, Maine — A Maine state lawmaker who has been vocally opposed to mask-wearing and downplayed the pandemic has reportedly contracted COVID-19. Republican Rep. Chris Johansen of Monticello admitted to having the virus in a phone call recorded by a reporter for the alternative news site Mainer. "Listen up. I've got COVID and I'm really sick," Johansen said in the recording.