Breaking the hard news. Idris Elba admitted via Twitter that he has been self-isolating since finding out he tested positive for COVID-19.
The Luther star, 47, remained calm as he filmed himself beside his wife, Sabrina Dhowre Elba, and shared the news with fans on Monday, March 16.
“This morning I tested positive for COVID-19. 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 tweeted. “Stay home people and be pragmatic. I will keep you updated on how I’m doing 👊🏾👊🏾 No panic.”
Elba continued in his video, “It sucks. I’m doing OK. Sabrina hasn’t been tested and she’s doing OK. I didn’t have any symptoms. I got tested because I realized that I was exposed to someone who had also tested positive. I found out last Friday that they tested positive, I quarantined myself and got tested immediately. I got results back today. This is serious. Now’s the time to really think about social distancing, washing your hands.”
This morning I tested positive for Covid 19. 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. pic.twitter.com/Lg7HVMZglZ
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) March 16, 2020
Elba urged fans to stay home and stay safe amid the uncertainty of the global coronavirus outbreak, with his wife visibly shaken beside him. As he continued to address the state of his health, he kept calling attention to the importance of being “really vigilant” about personal hygiene so as not to spread the illness unknowingly.
“We’ve told our families, they’re very supportive. We’ve told our colleagues. Transparency is probably the best thing for this right now,” the Hobbs & Shaw star added. “Look, we live in a divided world right now. We can all feel it, it’s been bulls–t. But now is the time for solidarity. Now is the time for thinking about each other. There’s so many people whose lives have been affected — from those who have lost people that they love, to people that don’t have it and have lost their livelihoods. This is real … Stay positive and don’t freak out.”
News of the Thor actor’s health scare comes shortly after Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson confirmed that they had also tested positive for the disease while in Australia. The actors, both 63, have been trying to stay upbeat and keep fans in the know as they continue to get the medical information they need.
“We are taking it one-day-at-a-time,” the Toy Story star wrote via Instagram on March 12. “There are things we can all do to get through this by following the advice of experts and taking care of ourselves and each other, no? Remember, despite all the current events, there is no crying in baseball.”
Wilson, for her part, attempted to joke her way through the hectic news. “From here on out, the only Corona I want is from Mexico. And you drink it,” she tweeted in the midst of her self-quarantine.
Given the constantly evolving nature of COVID-19, Us Weekly wants our readers to have access to the most accurate resources. For the most up-to-date coronavirus information, guidance, and support, consult the CDC, WHO, and information from local public health officials. If you’re experiencing coronavirus symptoms, call your primary care provider for medical advice.
