The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the entire world, and America is now bracing for the
worst.
The virus is currently spreading through every state, and no one is safe including celebrities
and politicians.
In fact, the list of celebs with coronavirus keeps on growing.
On March 16th, 2020, actor Idris Elba announced that he'd tested positive for the coronavirus,
tweeting:
"I feel ok, I have no symptoms so far but have been isolated since I found out about
my possible exposure to the virus.
Stay home people and be pragmatic.
I will keep you updated on how I'm doing.
No panic."
In the accompanying video message, Elba explained that he self-quarantined and got tested immediately
after learning that a person he'd come into contact with had tested positive three days
prior.
Elba then explained why he decided to share his diagnosis with the world:
"Transparency is probably the best thing for this right now."
He goes on to say,
"If you're feeling ill, or you feel like you should be tested, or if you've been exposed,
then do something about it."
Elba ended the video by saying,
"Look, we live in a divided world right now.
We can all feel it.
[...] But now is the time for solidarity.
Now's the time for thinking about each other.
[...] Stay positive.
Don't freak out."
On March 19th, 2020, Hawaii 5-0 actor Daniel Dae Kim revealed he'd tested positive for
the coronavirus in a video posted to Instagram.
The 52-year old actor wrote in the caption,
"Looks like I'll be ok, but I wanted [to] share my journey with you in the hopes that
you find it informative or helpful.
Hope you all stay safe, calm, and above all, healthy."
In the accompanying video, Kim goes on explain,
"For the past several weeks I was in New York shooting a role on a TV series, where, ironically,
I play a doctor who gets recruited to a hospital to help patients during a flu pandemic."
He goes on to reveal that after he started showing symptoms,
"I went to a drive-through testing facility that had just opened here in Honolulu."
Three days later, he received a positive test result.
In his message, Kim warns a certain demographic about the seriousness of the virus:
"For all those out there - especially teenagers and millennials - who think this is not serious,
please know that it is."
He goes on to say,
"If you treat this without care, you are potentially endangering the lives of millions of people,
including your loved ones."
On March 20th, 2020, Andy Cohen the host of Bravo's talk show Watch What Happens Live
announced that he'd tested positive for coronavirus.
In a message to his fans posted to Instagram, he said,
"As much as I felt like I could push through whatever I was feeling to do WWHL from home,
we're putting a pin in that for now so I can focus on getting better.
I want to thank all the medical professionals who are working tirelessly for all of us,
and urge everybody to stay home and take care of themselves."
Just a few days before his diagnosis, Cohen told Variety that he planned to host the popular
talk show from his New York City apartment amid the coronavirus pandemic.
He said,
"Our show is arguably the most lo-tech show in late night in its current form.
So the idea of taking it down even further a few notches is just ironic and hilarious.
I mean, we're the show that I still can't believe gets a live signal out of a very small
clubhouse in Soho.
So we will now be from my own clubhouse in the West Village."
Hopefully this plan will still come to fruition once Cohen recovers.
Colton Underwood who starred in Season 23 of The Bachelor in 2019 announced in an Instagram
video that he'd been diagnosed with coronavirus.
In the caption, he wrote that,
"I have been following all of the social distancing rules since last week.
My symptoms started a few days ago, I was tested and just received my results today."
He goes on to say,
"For anyone out there that is hesitant to self quarantine... please do yourself and
your loved ones a favor and stay home.
We will all beat this and come out stronger on the other side.
I’ll keep you posted, Love y’all."
In the video, Underwood shared a few words of encouragement and wisdom:
"So, I guess the reason I'm sharing this is not to cause fear or panic, but to hopefully
encourage you guys to stay home, do your part, take care of yourselves, take care of one
another."
The reality TV star also pointed out why everyone should take the virus seriously, regardless
of how old they are:
"I'm 28, I consider myself pretty healthy, I work out regularly, I eat healthy, and I
became symptomatic a few days ago."
But despite his healthy lifestyle, Underwood claims that,
"I can't even walk up a flight of stairs without being out of breath or going to the bathroom
without having to sit down, because I'm exhausted."
Disgraced former movie producer Harvey Weinstein has also tested positive for the coronavirus.
Officials told New York's Niagara Gazette that Weinstein was likely already positive
for COVID-19 upon entering Wende Correctional Facility, after he was transferred from Rikers
Island.
As the Niagara Gazette reports,
"He is one of two Wende inmates who have tested positive."
Michael Powers, the president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent
Association, couldn't give any details on the disgraced mogul's health, but he did make
a point to say,
"There is no better breeding ground for this virus than a closed environment such as a
correctional facility."
According to Reuters, Weinstein's legal team wasn't notified of his diagnosis.
Imran Ansari, a lawyer on Weinstein's defense team, said,
"Given Mr. Weinstein's state of health, we are of course concerned, if this is the case,
and we are vigilantly monitoring the situation."
The Oscar-winning producer is currently serving a 23-year sentence.
On March 22nd, 2020, an announcement on Senator Rand Paul's official Twitter account revealed
that the Kentucky Republican has been diagnosed with coronavirus.
Paul's spokesperson tweeted in part:
"He is feeling fine and is in quarantine.
He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive
travel and events.
He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person."
Paul's diagnosis makes him the first sitting senator and third U.S. lawmaker to announce
that they've tested positive for COVID-19.
The previous week, Representative Mario Diaz-Balart and Representative Ben McAdams both revealed
that they'd been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.
Paul had recently voted against an $8.3 billion emergency response coronavirus bill after
his proposed amendment to the bill was turned down.
On March 5th, he tweeted:
"Earlier today I said that while I support an all-hands-on-deck response to the coronavirus
we should cut out waste and take money from less urgent spending like what we waste overseas
to put into that response effort.
We have to start setting our own priorities."
And as recently as March 5th, Paul had been skeptical that the novel coronavirus would
spread through the United States:
"I think we're still doing pretty well and I'm hopeful that the numbers remain pretty
small and that through sequestration or quarantine we're able to actually stymie this disease."
On March 25th, 2020 it was announced that Prince Charles the 71-year-old son of Queen
Elizabeth II has tested positive for coronavirus.
The statement revealed that Prince Charles was self-isolating in Scotland, and claimed
that,
"He has been displaying mild symptoms but otherwise remains in good health and has been
working from home throughout the last few days as usual."
The Prince of Wales' wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has since tested negative for
COVID-19.
The statement revealed that the tests were administered by the NHS, the United Kingdom's
publicly-funded healthcare system, because
"They [both] met the criteria required for testing."
The statement also announced that
"It is not possible to ascertain from whom the Prince caught the virus owing to the high
number of engagements he carried out in his public role during recent weeks."
Meanwhile, a statement from Buckingham Palace revealed that
"Her Majesty The Queen remains in good health.
The Queen last saw The Prince of Wales briefly on the morning of [the] 12th [of] March and
[she] is following all the appropriate advice with regard to her welfare."
On March 17th, a royal announcement stated that,
"As a sensible precaution and for practical reasons in the current circumstances [...] Her
Majesty will move to Windsor Castle for the Easter period on Thursday [the] 19th [of]
March, one week earlier than planned."
On March 27th, 2020, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed in a Twitter video that he'd
tested positive for coronavirus, writing in the caption that
"I have developed mild symptoms [... and] am now self-isolating, but I will continue
to lead the government's response via video-conference as we fight this virus.
Together we will beat this."
In the accompanying video, Johnson explains that he took a test after experiencing a fever
and a persistent cough.
He announced that he would be working from home for the foreseeable future.
"Be in no doubt that I can continue, thanks to the wizardry of modern technology, to communicate
with all my top team to lead the national fightback against coronavirus."
In the video, he goes on to thank the National Health Service, and expresses gratitude to
British citizens for doing their part to stop the spread of the virus.
He strongly encourages everyone to take the recommended prevention measures, adding:
"Thank you to everybody who's doing what I'm doing, working from home to stop the spread
of the virus from household to household.
That's the way we're going to win."
On March 21st, 2020, Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan took to Instagram to announce
that he'd tested positive for the coronavirus.
In the caption, he writes that,
"I just got my results back today [...]. I've been sick for a week and feeling better each
day.
Please don't be afraid!!!
[...] I've [...] been quarantined for a week and will for another week.
And when I feel better I'll get tested again to make sure I'm free of this nasty virus.
Please help out each other.
This will be over soon... with the help of every American!!"
In addition to his work with Bon Jovi, Bryan has released three solo albums over the years.
He also won two Tony Awards for his original score and orchestrations for the 2010 Broadway
musical, Memphis.
During a live stream appearance on Oprah Winfrey's Apple TV+ series Oprah Talks, Idris Elba's
wife, the model Sabrina Dhowre, revealed that she didn't take measures to avoid contracting
the coronavirus.
As she put it,
"Actually, I found out this morning, Oprah, that I tested positive.
I'm not surprised, as soon as I heard that Idris was potentially exposed."
Here's how she explained why she didn't distance herself from Elba:
"I was on my way anyway and I wanted to be with him, I think that's an instinct as a
wife: You just want to go and take care.
We didn't change the way we interacted.
I could have made a decision to put myself in a separate room or maybe stay away and
I'm sure people are making those decisions.
[...] I made the decision to want to be with him and still touch him."
On March 23rd, 2020, Broadway actor Aaron Tveit [tuh-VAIT] announced on Instagram that
he'd been diagnosed with coronavirus.
The 36-year-old performer wrote,
"I've been in quarantine since Broadway shows shut down on Thursday, March 12th, and I'm
feeling much better.
I consider myself extremely lucky that my symptoms have been very mild cold-like with
no fever as so many are experiencing much more serious symptoms."
He goes to on to say,
"I want everyone to realize that this can affect anyone.
And even if you aren't feeling sick or showing drastic symptoms please take heed, stay safe,
stay healthy and I hope to see everyone at the theater again soon."
On March 25th, 2020, actress Laura Bell Bundy announced on Instagram that she'd tested positive
for the coronavirus:
"Do not be alarmed, I am OK.
I am taking everything in stride."
The actress also revealed that she's been self-quarantining since March 12th.
She claims she initially experienced mild symptoms like headaches and a sore throat,
but a few days later, her symptoms grew more intense:
"I had what I can only explain as a tightness in my chest and a shortness of breath."
Bundy also admitted,
"Of course I'm scared.
My husband also has symptoms.
Our son is not showing symptoms.
[...] I highly encourage everybody to stay inside."
Stressing the importance of social distancing and self-quarantining, she said,
"My belief is that more people have this than they realize and could be carriers.
I was tested, but many people can't get tested.
My husband is not getting tested, so he's not going to be counted as someone who has
this even though he does."
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