The coronavirus pandemic that popped up globally in 2019 and 2020 caught plenty of folks by
surprise and it didn't take long for the world to learn that celebrities aren't immune to
the virus, also known as COVID-19.
Here are some of the high-profile actors, athletes, and politicians who have tested
positive.
On March 11th, 2020, the NBA announced that it would suspend the remainder of its season,
which naturally shocked fans.
But the league had a good reason for doing so one of the players on the Utah Jazz tested
positive for coronavirus.
That baller turned out to be Rudy Gobert, who broke the news on his Instagram page,
writing,
"The first and most important thing is I would like to publicly apologize to the people that
I may have endangered.
At the time, I had no idea I was even infected."
Gobert went on to acknowledge how careless he had been before learning about his diagnosis,
and he encouraged people to learn from his mistake.
He added,
"I will do whatever I can to support using my experience as a way to educate others and
prevent the spread of this virus."
"It's all about protecting yourself and the people around you."
Unfortunately, Gobert wasn't the only NBA player to come down with coronavirus Utah
Jazz teammate Donovan Mitchell also tested positive for the disease.
And while he admitted he had to "cool off" after learning he had contracted the coronavirus
from Gobert, Mitchell maintained a healthy perspective in a video-chat interview on Good
Morning America.
He said he was "happy" that he and Gobert were the only two on their team to be diagnosed.
"Neither him or I have children at home.
I know I have some teammates who have children, I have some staff who have children at home."
While Mitchell did have to enter isolation so as not to infect anyone else, he claimed
he hadn't shown any symptoms of COVID-19.
Mitchell even said he'd be ready to lace up and play a game at any time.
"No fever, no symptoms as of right now, and I'm just blessed to be able to be okay."
When news broke that a member of Brazilian President Bolsonaro's staff tested positive
for coronavirus in March 2020, that caused concern for Miami mayor Francis Suarez, who
had recently met with the leader.
"During the President's visit to Miami on Monday and Tuesday, I was in the same room
as the President and the infected staff member."
Suarez added that, in an effort to be as cautious as possible, he was going to self-quarantine
so as not to spread the virus to others.
Shortly thereafter, Suarez once again took to Instagram to announce that he'd tested
positive for COVID-19.
"After speaking with medical professionals, I will continue to follow Department of Health
protocol and remain isolated while I lead our government remotely."
He also said that the city of Miami would go on operating as normal, though some restrictions
have been implemented, according to the Miami Herald.
COVID-19 has also been spreading throughout the land down under, according to the Australian
government.
That's where actor Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, were when they started feeling
ill, according to a post on his Instagram page.
He wrote in his caption,
"To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the [coronavirus],
and were found to be positive."
After that, the couple went into isolation.
Interestingly enough, a post that Hanks made shortly thereafter sparked controversy, though
not because of any coronavirus concerns.
He shared a snap of toast slathered in Vegemite an Australian culinary staple.
But Australians were flummoxed by the amount of the condiment he had spread on his toast,
according to People magazine, and admonished him for his mistake.
Journalist Sally Sara tweeted,
"Life is like a tube of Vegemite.
Don't try it all at once."
You might not think of James Bond or his many lady friends as especially susceptible to
illness, but one Bond Girl did test positive for coronavirus: Ukrainian-born actress Olga
Kurylenko.
In a post on her Instagram page, she wrote,
"I've actually been ill for almost a week now.
Fever and fatigue are my main symptoms.
Take care of yourself and do take this seriously!"
Kurylenko also said that she was "locked up at home" while sick, which prompted people
to ask her why she had quarantined at home instead of at a hospital.
Her answer?
"Because hospitals are full and they are only taking patients that are struggling with life,
if I understand correctly."
She was also careful to assure her fans that she would call an ambulance if necessary.
As to where Kurylenko contracted the illness, she said,
"Impossible to know."
Beloved British actor Idris Elba took to Twitter to share an unfortunate announcement on March
16th, 2020 he'd tested positive for COVID-19.
He wrote in the caption,
"I feel ok, I have no symptoms so far but have been isolated since I found out about
my possible exposure to the virus."
He encouraged people to "stay home" and "be pragmatic," noting that he'd keep his followers
informed about his health.
Elba also shared a video in the tweet, in which he discussed the details of his diagnosis
and implored his followers to take the situation seriously.
"Now is the time to really think about social distancing, washing your hands."
Elba implored his fans to forget their partisan differences and come together to take care
of each other.
"Now's the time for solidarity, now's the time for thinking about each other."