Famous People Who Have Contracted Coronavirus Around the World The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact around the globe. The virus is now thought to have infected more than 5 million people and killed over 360,000 people worldwide. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the famous faces around the world who have been diagnosed with Coronavirus, as well as those who have sadly passed away due to the disease. Contents
- Entertainment
- Politics
- Royalty
- Famous people who have lost their lives to COVID-19
- Summary
Entertainment
Pink In early April, veteran pop star Pink shared an Instagram post with her followers revealing that she and her 3-year-old son Jameson had been diagnosed with COVID-19. They had both begun to display symptoms before being tested through their primary care physician.
The 40-year-old singer said, “My family was already sheltering at home and we continued to do so for the last two weeks following the instruction of our doctor.” The pair have since recovered and a follow-up test revealed they are no longer infected. Pink took the opportunity to send a stark message to the US Government, saying it was an “absolute travesty” that more tests were not being made available to those in need. In her post, the singer thanked healthcare professionals around the world, calling them ‘heroes’. She also announced that she was donating $1 million towards the fight against the virus, with half of the money going to Temple University Hospital Emergency Fund in Philadelphia and half going to the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Emergency COVID-19 Crisis Fund. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Hollywood A-lister Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson both announced they’d tested positive for Coronavirus on March 11th. The pair, who are both 63, were two of the first high profile celebrities to announce they’d contracted the virus. They were in Australia working on a Warner Bros biopic about the life of Elvis Presley when they received their positive test results, and immediately went into lockdown. Hanks has since shared details of their experience with COVID-19 during a recent interview on The National Defense Radio Show. He explained that Rita suffered more severe symptoms then him; “She had a much higher fever. She had lost her sense of taste and sense of smell.” The pair have since fully recovered and have returned to their home in Los Angeles. Idris Elba British actor Idris Elba tested positive for COVID-19 in mid-March, alongside his wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba. The pair had already been in isolation and continued to quarantine for 14 days. The 47-year-old star of “Hobbs & Shaw” revealed that the pair had relatively mild symptoms, but decided to get a test after Idris had been in contact with someone else who had tested positive. In a video shared on twitter, Elba urges his fans to remain vigilant about their health and the health of the community. “Now’s the time to really think about social distancing, washing your hands.”, he said. The couple are UN Goodwill Ambassadors and said that the experience had inspired them to help those less fortunate during the crisis. They plan to raise $200 million to support rural farmers during the pandemic, as well as an additional $40 million for the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development. More recently, Elba took part in the ‘One World: Together at Home’ concert organised by stars around the globe. During the live stream, he told fans “I think that the world should take a week of quarantine every year just to remember this time” adding, “it does remind you that the world doesn’t tick on your time.” Olga Kurylenko On March 15th, former Bond girl Olga Kurylenko announced that she had been diagnosed with Coronavirus. She told her 662,000 Instagram followers that she was ‘locked up at home’ after she’d received a positive test result. “I’ve actually been ill for almost a week now. Fever and fatigue are my main symptoms” she told fans. The actress, who starred alongside Daniel Craig in the 2008 James Bond film Quantum of Solace, added “take care of yourself and do take this seriously”. Kurylenko has since made a full recovery. Plácido Domingo On March 22nd, Spanish opera singer Plácido Domingo released a statement on his Facebook page, saying it was his ‘moral duty’ to share that he had contracted COVID-19. The 79-year-old, who has been embroiled in a recent sexual harassment scandal, explained that he and his family were isolating at home. “Currently we are all in good health but I experienced fever and cough symptoms, therefore, deciding to get tested and the result came back positive.” 7 days later, Domingo’s condition worsened and he was taken into a hospital near his home in Acapulco, Mexico. He was released just a few days later and had fortunately gone on to make a full recovery. Sara Bareilles American singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles revealed she had contracted the virus on her Instagram Stories in early April. The 40-year-old singer explained she had since made a full recovery, and that even at the peak of the illness, her symptoms were ‘very mild’. “I am just thinking about all the people who are walking through this really tricky time and sending a lot of love.” She said, adding that she is “really grateful for every easy breath and every day”. Bareilles, who is famous for her hits ‘Love Song”, “Gravity” and “Brave”` received an outpouring of support from her fans after the post. She reassured them saying “Thank you all for the concern,” she said. “I had a VERY MILD case of Covid and am counting my blessing for that… I am totally fine and fully recovered.” David Bryan 58-year-old Bon Jovi keyboard player David Bryan revealed he tested positive for the virus on March 22nd. The Tony-Award winner shared an Instagram post with his followers, saying he’d “been sick for a week and feeling better each day. Please don’t be afraid! It’s the flu, not the plague,” “I’ve have 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,” he added. It took Bryan five long weeks to shake the virus, but he has now made a full recovery. Speaking to the press, he said “It’s really scary because you don’t know if it’s going to take you down. Every day, it’s please don’t get worse, please don’t get worse.” Rachel Matthews Rachel Matthews, the American actress who voiced the character Honeymaren in “Frozen 2” announced her COVID-19 diagnosis via her Instagram feed on March 16th. The 26-year-old actress then went on to publish a detailed timeline of her symptoms, giving a day by day breakdown. Matthews said that her first symptoms where a sore throat, headache, and fatigue, which progressed to a mild fever, body aches, chills, and a “sharp pain in the lungs” the following day. The actress reportedly lost her appetite during the peak of her illness and had no sense of taste or smell. Matthews told her fans that she was tested after coming into contact with someone who had the virus. She took aim at the US Government, saying that tests are “insanely hard to come by”. “Our country is behind and we don’t have much of a system in place”, she said. Rachel has now made a full recovery. Kristofer Hivju Norwegian actor Kristofer Hivju, famous for his portrayal of Tormund Giantsbane in Game of Thrones, announced his diagnosis on his Instagram page on March 16th. He told his fans that he and his family are self-isolating for ‘as long as it takes’. He reassured his followers that he felt in relatively good health, saying “I only have mild symptoms of a cold” while he urged the public to take every necessary precaution to protect themselves and their communities. “There are people at higher risk for who this virus might be a devastating diagnosis, so I urge all of you to be extremely careful; wash your hands, keep 1.5 meters distance from others, go in quarantine; just do everything you can to stop the virus from spreading.”
Politics
Boris Johnson British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his COVID-19 diagnosis on March 27th after experiencing mild symptoms and being tested at Downing Street. He continued working from his official London residence while in self-isolation for several days, before being taken into hospital as his symptoms worsened. On April 6th, the 55-year-old British leader took a turn for the worse and was admitted to intensive care, where he managed to recover and regain his strength before being discharged on April 12th. Johnson continued his recovery at his country residence Chequers and eventually returned to work on April 26th, almost a month after first testing positive. Upon his return to work, the Prime Minister addressed the nation, paying tribute to the NHS and thanking staff for saving his life. “I want to thank the many nurses, men, and women, whose care has been so astonishing.”. He singled out two nurses, in particular, Jenny from New Zealand and Luis from Portugal – who stood by his bedside “for 48 hours when things could have gone either way.” “The reason, in the end, my body did start to get enough oxygen was because for every second of the night they were watching and they were thinking and they were caring and making the interventions I needed” he added. Matt Hancock Shortly after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that he’d contracted COVID-19, Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock also confirmed he’d tested positive for the virus. He shared a tweet with his followers, saying “I’ve tested positive. Thankfully my symptoms are mild and I’m working from home and self-isolating.” Hancock continued to work from home throughout his illness and was able to leave isolation on April 2nd after making a full recovery. Dominic Cummings The prime minister’s chief advisor Dominic Cummings famously contracted the virus in late March. After developing symptoms, he, his wife, and his young son went into isolation at his father’s estate in County Durham, in what is now viewed as a highly controversial decision. On April 12th, he and his wife were also spotted on a day trip to Barnard Castle. During the last week in May, Boris Johnson faced calls to sack Cummings over the allegations that he broke lockdown rules. Greta Thunberg Teenage activist Greta Thunberg announced in March that she and her father, actor Svante Thunberg, both had suspected cases of COVID-19. In a video interview with the New Scientist, the Swedish climate change campaigner said that despite displaying symptoms, neither she nor her father had been tested for the virus. At that time, Sweden was reserving testing for those in high-risk categories or those displaying very severe symptoms. Thunberg suspected the pair had contracted the Coronavirus after a recent rail tour around Europe, which took place before strict lockdown restrictions were imposed across most of the continent. 17-year-old Greta and her father both suffered only mild symptoms of the virus, but she issued a warning to other young people to stay vigilant and protect the health of those more vulnerable to the disease. “We who do not belong to a risk group have an enormous responsibility, our actions can be the difference between life and death for many others”, she said. Michel Barnier Michael Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, tested positive for Coronavirus on March 19th. The French politician announced the news to his followers via a video message on Twitter, saying “I would like to inform you that I have tested positive for Covid-19. I am doing well and in good spirits. I am following all the necessary instructions, as is my team.”. “For all those affected already, and for all those currently in isolation, we will get through this together”, he added. The 69-year-old has since gone on to make a full recovery and returned to work in late April. Sophie Grégoire Trudeau The Canadian Prime Minister’s wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, tested positive for the virus on March 12th. She reportedly came down with flu-like symptoms after travelling home from London, and tests confirmed that she had contracted COVID-19. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not display any symptoms of the virus, and although the couple were isolating together in the same household, he told the media that they were taking steps to remain apart. When Mrs Grégoire Trudeau revealed she’d made a full recovery, the Prime Minister announced he’d be remaining in isolation for a further two weeks at his Ottawa home in case he had contracted the virus.
Royalty
Prince Charles Prince Charles tested positive for COVID-19 on March 26th after displaying ‘mild symptoms’ of the virus. Clarence House released a statement, saying the 71-year-old “otherwise remains in good health and has been working from home throughout the last few days as usual.”. The Duchess of Cornwall was also tested but had not contracted the virus. Following NHS guidelines, the couple isolated for two weeks at their home in Scotland. Despite being in a high-risk category, the heir to the throne did not suffer any complications from the disease and went on to make a full recovery. Prince Albert II Albert II, the reigning Prince of Monaco, tested positive for the virus on March 19th. The 62-year-old royal had declared lockdown on the principality of Monaco just one day before, following the World Health Organisation declaration stating the new virus was now a global pandemic. A statement from the royal palace said that the price was displaying only mild symptoms and there were “no concerns for his health”. “My symptoms are flu-like, but it feels like a pretty mild case,” said Albert during an interview with People magazine “I’ve a slight fever, not really that bad. A little bit of a cough. I’d a runny nose the first few days, that was the first sign. I’ve felt a little stuffed up, but that’s it. I have to be careful because of my recent medical history fighting off pneumonia a couple of years ago.” He continued to work from home from his private apartment at the palace throughout his quarantine period. On March 31st, a statement from the palace announced that the prince was ‘declared cured’ and was able to end his period of isolation.
Famous People Who Have Lost Their Lives to COVID-19 The Coronavirus pandemic had killed thousands of people around the globe, with several celebrities among them. Here are a few of the stars who have tragically lost their lives in the pandemic. Our thoughts are with their loved ones and everyone affected by loss during this time. Eddie Large Eddie Large, one half of comedy double act ‘Little and Large’, sadly lost his battle with Coronavirus on April 2nd. In a statement released by his family and agent, it was revealed that the 78-year-old had contracted the virus in hospital while undergoing treatment for heart failure. The star, whose real name was Edward McGinnis, rose to fame with his comedy partner Syd Little during the 1970s and ’80s. Paying tribute to his friend, Syd released a statement saying “I am devastated to have lost not just my comedy partner of 60 years, but my friend of 60 years.”. Fred The Godson The New York rapper, whose real name was Fredrick Thomas, sadly passed away on April 23rd at just 35 years of age, making him one of the youngest stars to die in the pandemic. Famous for his work with artists Mac Miller, Pusha-T, and Kendrick Lamar, the rapper had been sharing updates with his fans on social media, asking them “Please keep me in y’all prayers”. The artist suffered from asthma, and also had an underlying health condition affecting his kidneys. He leaves behind his wife, LeAnn Jemmott, and two children. Roy Horn The magician Roy Horn, best known as part of the performing duo Siegfried and Roy, passed away at the age of 75 after testing positive for the virus in April. The double act rose to fame as magicians and entertainers on the Las Vegas strip, where their shows often involved white lions and white tigers. Horn was initially said to have been “responding well to treatment” but sadly deteriorated and lost his battle with Coronavirus on May 8th. Horn’s co-star, Siegfried Fischbacher, paid tribute to his partner, saying “The world has lost one of the greats of magic, but I have lost my best friend”. “Roy was a fighter his whole life including during these final days. I give my heartfelt appreciation to the team of doctors, nurses, and staff at Mountain View Hospital who worked heroically against this insidious virus that ultimately took Roy’s life.” Terrence McNally The award-winning American playwright Terrance McNally passed away due to complications from COVID-19 in late March. He was hailed as one of the world’s greatest contemporary playwrights and had a career spanning more than 6 decades. The 81-year-old suffered from a chronic inflammatory lung disease which put him in a high-risk category, and he was also a lung cancer survivor. After the news of his death, tributes poured in from his colleagues and friends around the world. Actress Audra McDonald, who starred on Broadway in 2019 in McNally’s “Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune,” tweeted her condolences, saying “My dear sweet brilliant kind Terrence. The world is not nearly as sweet of a place without you in it. My heart is breaking yet again.”. Dave Greenfield Dave Greenfield, the keyboard player from the influential punk bank The Strangers, passed away on May 3rd after testing positive for the virus. He had been undergoing treatment for heart problems in hospital. The musician was famous for his distinctive playing style and was the man behind the hit tune ‘Golden Brown’, which won an Ivor Novello award. Greenfield was 71 when he passed away. Adam Schlesinger Singer-songwriter Adam Schlesinger, best known for his role in the American band Fountains of Wayne, passed away in April after testing positive for Coronavirus. The ‘Stacy’s Mom’ co-writer won multiple Emmy awards for his music, and also earned an Oscar nomination for his role writing the title track on That Thing You Do!, a musical comedy directed by Tom Hanks. Hanks, who has also suffered from Coronavirus, paid tribute to his former colleague in a tweet, saying: “There would be no Playtone without Adam Schlesinger, without his That Thing You Do! He was a One-der. Lost him to Covid-19. Terribly sad today. Hanx.” Schlesinger was just 52 when he died, leaving behind his partner Alexis Morley, and his two daughters.
Summary COVID-19 doesn’t discriminate; the virus is affecting people from every corner of the globe, and celebrities are no exception. Our condolences go out to all those who have lost loved ones during the pandemic, and we wish all those currently suffering from the virus a full and speedy recovery.
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