Even though rich people are rich and they have access to a million things us peasants don’t have access to, I still kind of believe that rich peeps are in the same boat as many peasants: the lack of available and reliable testing. Which is why I sort of believe that there are probably a lot of celebrities who have been exposed to the coronavirus and maybe even have it, but are just waiting things out, especially if they are only experiencing minor issues or are completely asymptomatic. So it is with Idris Elba: he only got tested because he was around someone who later tested positive. And now our beloved Idris has the corona. SOB!
Idris Elba on Monday revealed that he has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).
“This morning I tested positive for Covid 19,” the actor tweeted. “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 an accompanying video, Elba added: “I didn’t have any symptoms. I got tested because I realized I was exposed to someone who had also tested positive. I found out last Friday that they were tested positive. I quarantined myself and got a test immediately and got the results back today.”
The actor also urged his followers to “really think about social distancing, washing your hands… Beyond that, there are people out there who aren’t showing symptoms and that can easily spread it, OK? So now’s the real time to be really vigilant about washing your hands and keeping your distance, OK? Transparency is probably the best thing for this right now. If you’re feeling ill or you feel like you should be tested or you’ve been exposed, then do something about it, alright?” he also said. “It’s really important.”
NOT OUR IDRIS. Why does it feel like the ‘rona is coming for the best men? First Tom Hanks and now Idris? And yet Donald Trump’s sniffling and wheezing is apparently “not coronavirus.” Hm. Anyway, Idris is an amazing person and I hope he rides out – cough – his quarantine with little drama and no illness. He also says that his wife hasn’t been tested? WTF.
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
Photos courtesy of WENN.
More than 11k people infected here in Spain, 491 deaths, and this is the 12h update, the 18h update is going to be crazy (17/03) Experts are saying the real number would be around 100k infected. Many people are complaining that they’re not being tested after being in contact with someone infected so I assume this is the same thing going on eveywhere else.
There is no purpose into testing everyone. Of course the numbers are far superior as what is announced…. Only the really sick will be treated, the rest will be fine… That’s why lockdown is important
An expert recently weighed in and said more people, for sure, need to be tested. https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/03/test-test-test-who-says-as-us-flounders-with-covid-19-response/?amp=1
We need to test as many people as possible to break the chain of infection, he said. Isolating people will not be enough to make this virus disappear. South Korea is seeing some success by doing broad testing. It’s also how they found out so many asymptomatic twentysomethings had it and were passing the virus on to everyone else. Given reports that one can be contagious for up to 37 days, two weeks of isolation won’t be enough to snuff out coronavirus.
There is *absolutely* purpose in testing as many people as possible. The outbreak areas that have seen the greatest success in containment and treatment are – without exception – places where testing was deployed as early and as widespread as possible.
There’s every indication this will go down in human history as a grave mass-casualty event that could have been substantially mitigated by aggressive testing protocols.
Im guessing they are just presuming the wife has it? I don’t understand why there isn’t more chatter about getting China to ban these live animal markets. This isn’t the first virus that’s happened because of these sort of markets. Look how many people have died because of this.
Caitlin, my understanding is that the sorts of animals, like the pangolin, at the markets were being sold illegally. That said, researchers are still not sure which animal gave us the coronavirus. I would hope that after this pandemic people involved in the illegal sale of wildlife for food would think twice about doing so again.
Maybe his wife is just doing the same as him, quarantining for 14 days. There are so few tests available in some places. Maybe because she has the means she decided to just stay in and proceed as if she does have it.
Stay safe and healthy everyone. This is a scary time, especially because we utterly lack leadership and our nation elected an administration that turned its back on science, this outbreak (now pandemic) was handled as if we are in the same place scientifically as medieval peasants dealing with bubonic plague. A complete waste of all the progress and science made available to us by hundreds of years of learning and advancement.
It’s disgusting and heartbreaking.
” This is a scary time, especially because we utterly lack leadership and our nation elected an administration that turned its back on science, this outbreak (now pandemic) was handled as if we are in the same place scientifically as medieval peasants dealing with bubonic plague.”
This isn’t all about America. This is about the whole world. It’s a scary time for us all globally.
Absolutely Sean ( and happy St Pat’s to one I assume is a fellow irish heritage!)
Scary no matter what. I guess I mean it’s compounded by the lack of proper reaction in America.
A loved one of mine is about to have a baby. I am very very glad she’s in an EU nation where there is proper testing going on, at least she won’t be delivering a baby with nurses who may have corona. At least they are taking a scientific approach to this scary crisis, and using the latest science available.
Here in the USA the lack of testing means we don’t even know if our medical practitioners are infected, even as they continue to work! They deserve better, we all do. Because better is possible. Testing is possible. Trump could have taken the tests from the WHO, he could have done many many many scientific protection measures. He didn’t. And now I’m just glad that my dear American loved one now lives in the EU, because they will take better care of her and her baby than she would get in here in her home country.
It’s not a contest.
We are 300 million-plus people being “led” by an ignorant toddler who, in the past few weeks, has referred to the spread of COVID-19 in the US as “fake news” and made grand pronouncements like “we stopped it,” “the numbers look to be going down,” and “It’s going to disappear. One day, it’s like a miracle, it will disappear!” – statements not even remotely based in reality.
America is unique among first world nations in that many millions upon millions of us won’t seek medical care because we CAN’T. And a whole bunch of us are going to die.
So… yeah. Nobody is claiming this is “all about America,” but the rest of the world should be on notice that the largest economy on the planet will very soon be on its knees.
@ Thank you, Polyanna. I am indeed Irish and wish the same back to you.
@Ames; I understand the political situation in the USA and I never said it was a contest (this is not a contest anyone wants to “win” unless it means eradicating the virus or containing all cases). What I’m trying to state is that this is a grave situation globally. Some countries have handled this situation better than others and Drumpf and his minions have predictably handled this situation horribly as he has handled all situations throughout his presidency. My sympathies go out to all Americans who don’t have access to the proper testing and the general medical system there. I have family in the US so don’t take it as me being dismissive.
Yes, the US economy is important but you know what other economies are important? China, France and the UK and they are overwhelmed with cases. The UK response has been just as weak as the US response. There will be hard economic and societal times ahead globally. But ultimately there’s a big health crisis affecting almost every country in the world and I don’t like the implication that the US problems are somehow greater or more serious than what’s happening in the rest of the world.
Dislike the implication all you like. My point stands that no one here implied it.
Amazing how celebrities who don’t have any symptoms can get tested but regular people who are showing signs of symptoms can’t get tested.
And yes I know he was in the presence of someone who tested positive but that shouldn’t be the standard of who gets tested vs who doesn’t especially when even by this standard there are people who still aren’t being tested!
On the other hand, as more and more celebrities announce they have Covid-19, it might make it more real to the idiots who are carrying on as if NBD. And if some of the 20-something idols get it, it might get through to the college students and high schoolers who are acting like “Whee, Spring Break! Let’s party!” At least I hope so.
Yeah, I was surprised that he got tested even though he didn’t have any symptoms. But then I was floored when I heard he’s in New Mexico right now, not the UK.
I seriously doubt regular New Mexicans can get tested.
Yeah, frankly testing without symptoms kinda bugs me, he could have just self-quarantined and held off testing unless he had symptoms. I do think there’s a 2-tier access going on here and it doesn’t sit well. At least he’s being a spokesperson for self-quarantine.
I live in NM and am in the industry here. He had direct contact with someone who tested positive while in pre-production, so that’s why he got tested. My friends on that production are also quarantining. (Netflix, NBCUniversal and other productions are of course now all halted here.)
Also, NM implemented drive-up testing over the weekend and screened 900 of 1,300 ppl who drove up, so it’s possible he was part of that group. It hit here later than other states, that we know of, so the state has been preparing—despite the test shortages, ugh. He could have given it to so many others on the production, where they’re all working 14-16 hours/day in close quarters.
Not having adequate tests will go down in the books as a horrible failing that we could have prevented. You all likely saw the story that broke re: the Seattle-based clinicians who identified the start of COVID-19 in the Seattle area who were told by the CDC and FDA not to test further. They defied the order and continued testing anyway. Heroes in the face of a horrible, morally corrupt administration.
The rich can always get tested yet there are people with severe symptoms who are being denied testing. It’s alarming how one person can have all the symptoms yet another can have none yet still have the virus. It makes it so much more insidious. Stay safe and well everyone.
Unfortunately, Coronavirus didn’t get real for some people until celebrities started getting sick. Idris was probably tested because he was at the WE Day event with Sophie Trudeau who also tested positive. Guess who was also at that event? Lewis Hamilton, who spent the day with Harry a few days later. Harry and Meghan then went to Church with the Queen and supposedly saw Charles over the weekend as well. I hope they are taking this seriously and not just keeping calm and carrying on. It just goes to show the importance of social distancing.
I read a report saying essentially LOOK AT EVERYONE SHE TOUCHED, SHE IS A PLAGUE SPREADER and got a bit defensive. Canada did not yet have community transmission when she left for the UK. It’s far more likely that she picked it up in the UK, and that report should have been more “who gave it to her? Let’s trace where these people have been.”
I hope no one suffers severely and there are limited transmissions from this circle of people.
It’s amazing what Meghan is blamed for and yet no one mentions all the people Kate and William touched on their tour of Ireland. Unbelievable. But there is no bias.
@Kyliegirl I was referring to an article about Sophie Trudeau, but yes, if that Meghan article isn’t already out there, it’s being edited as we type.
Here in the UK most people won’t be tested. If you have the symptoms you should quarantine but only contact the NHS if you have additional issues or are in a high risk group. So the majority of people who have it will never have a test or be counted in official statistics.
Lewis Hamilton was in that group with Idris
I hope he also gets tested and Harry does too because they met a few days after
He’s lucky he was able to get a test, and I guess they are assuming his wife is positive also now, but I’m really glad you put this out there and people will see that you can test positive without any symptoms. I also applaud him for doing the right thing, secluding himself and getting tested as soon as he realized he could have an issue.
Our 15 year old daughter who is disabled with a compromised immune system is currently in the PICU on a ventilator and sedated cannot get a test for this virus. She has been on a ventilator with a terrible case of pneumonia since last Thursday. An infectious disease doctor has contacted the CDC and the health department. They refuse a her a corona virus test. This man who has been exposed to someone that tested positive and still has no symptoms, got a test. Something isn’t adding up here. I know my daughter will just be a statistic and it will not change her treatment but her not getting tested doesn’t seem right to me.
I’m sorry Panzley, I hope your daughter gets appropriate treatment and recovers soon.
Panzley, so sorry, you’re going through this. I don’t know where you live, but if you’re in the U.S., I would recommend reaching out to your local TV station to raise awareness about your daughter’s condition. Public pressure, as a result of a news report, could help your child get the help she needs. Please consider reaching out to the local media in your area.
Panzley, I am so sorry you’re going through this. It sounds like a test wouldn’t change her treatment at this point and she just needs some time to fight this off. I am disgusted she can’t get a test. I too have a medically challenged child (cancer) and I’m scared. I wish the best for your child and I will pray for her. We’re all pulling for you.
Panzley, prayers and good thoughts for your daughter. And ALSO contact local media, as above posters were saying. A NYT reporter had symptoms, went to the hospital 3 times, was denied testing each time, and suddenly was offered a test when she called the hospital to fact-check on her reporting about her (lack of ) testing. Maybe you should get a journalist on the floor with you!
Ha, that’s sad but also kinda funny that he can get tested without a single symptom. I work in urgent care and we had exactly 3 tests this last weekend. We have very strict criteria patients had to meet before we would test. We had a ton of phone calls and told most people to just stay home if they were young and healthy! Unless you have trouble breathing there’s NO point in going to the hospital or urgent care.
I got nothing but he is so fine it’s ridiculous.
His wife must have it I’m sure. She touches her face enough times in that video…so if she didn’t have it before she sure has it now. I like how she just lurks around in the video reminding us women who lust after her husband he is married. Lol.
Well, he was photographed with Sophie Trudeau so it isn’t a big surprise that he got infected.
If his wife is just being treated as having it – warning others she came in contact t with and self isolating, I dont think it makes much difference if she gets tested. They are likely treating her as a positive case. Unless others cant get tested because they only came in contact with his wife and not Idra who has a positive result.
And yes, the whole royal family and everyone who were involved in the commonwealth/farewell tour events need to be tested.
@Genter. That is a great post and explains this very well. I can see that. I don’t even know what to say, we have to all wait this out.