Several high-profile names have started to speak out about testing positive for coronavirus.
The latest to say she had the disease is author JK Rowling. She joins model Sabrina Elba Dhowre, wife of actor Idris Elba, who also tested positive, TV host Andy Cohen, actors Tom Hanks and Kristofer Hivju, Prince Charles, actresses Rita Wilson and Olga Kurylenko, basketball players Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoias well as Prince Albert of Monaco in testing positive for coronavirus.
Many of the stars are urging fans to stay safe and be sensible as the pandemic continues.
A list of the high profile names who have coronavirus:
JK Rowling
The Harry Potter author revealed on Monday, April 6 that she had been suffering all the symptoms of Covid-19 for the past fortnight, though said she hadn't been tested for the virus.
"Thank you for your kind and lovely messages! I really am completely recovered and wanted to share a technique that’s recommended by doctors, costs nothing, has no nasty side effects but could help you/your loved ones a lot, as it did me," the British writer posted on Twitter.
Please watch this doc from Queens Hospital explain how to relieve respiratory symptoms. For last 2 weeks I've had all symptoms of C19 (tho haven't been tested) & did this on doc husband's advice. I'm fully recovered & technique helped a lot.https://t.co/xo8AansUvc via @YouTube
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 6, 2020
Rowling also shared a video from a doctor at England's Queen's Hospital, which showed breathing techniques intended to help sufferers get adequate air supply.
Dynamo
The British magician, who has Crohn's disease, revealed on Thursday, April 2 that he has tested positive for Covid-19. Dynamo, 37, said in an Instagram video that his "symptoms have been quite severe", but he believes he is "over the worst of it".
"As you know I’ve had some health issues over last few years and underlying conditions make this virus particularly dangerous and very real," he said. "This illness can affect anyone, it doesn’t discriminate and it can present itself in many different ways.”
Yoon Hak from Supernova
The singer is the first K-pop star to announce a Covid-19 diagnosis. He returned from Japan to South Korea on March 24 and was diagnosed with the coronavirus on April 1 after feeling mild symptoms.
"We think it will be possible for him to recover quickly," his management said in a statement. "We will halt all of his scheduled activities for a while to focus on his treatment and recovery."
The 37-year-old is being treated at Seoul Medical Centre.
Marianne Faithfull
British singer Marianne Faithfull has tested positive for the coronavirus and is being treated in hospital.
"Marianne Faithfull's manager ... has confirmed that Marianne is being treated for Covid-19 in hospital in London," music industry publicists Republic Media tweeted on Saturday. "She is stable and responding to treatment. We wish her well and a full and speedy recovery."
Faithfull, 73, was one of the icons of the 1960s and was catapulted to fame at the age of only 17 singing As Tears Go By, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones.
Pink
Singer Pink has revealed she has overcome Covid-19 as she urged the US government to make testing for the virus widely available. The So What star, who was born Alecia Moore, had not previously confirmed her diagnosis, but took to her social media on Friday, April 3 to say she had recovered.
"People need to know that the illness affects the young and old, healthy and unhealthy, rich and poor, and we must make testing free and more widely accessible to protect our children, our families, our friends and our communities," she wrote.
Pink added that she has made a $500,000 (Dh1.8 million) donation to Temple University Hospital Emergency Fund, in Philadelphia, as well as a $500,000 donation to the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Emergency Covid-19 Crisis Fund.
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne confirmed he tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday, March 25. The acclaimed singer-songwriter, 71, told Rolling Stone magazine he began to feel symptoms 10 days ago and immediately self-quarantined before a test confirmed his status. Browne suspects the source of the virus could be his March 12 performance in New York.
The Rock Hall of Fame inductee urged young people take it seriously. “They can spread it to somebody by presuming they won’t have any adverse effects themselves, and they can therefore keep partying and going where they want to go. It’s just not true,” he said. “They have to understand that everybody is part of the response to this.
Slim Thug
The Houston rapper dropped an Instagram video on Tuesday, March 24, to state he was tested positive for the coronavirus. The 39-year-old artist, known for hits 3 Kings and I Aint Heard That, said despite his best efforts to remain vigilant, he fell ill with a persistent cough and a fever. Thug warns his fans that when it comes to the virus "no games are being played," and urged them to stay home.
“As careful as I’ve been self-quarantining, staying home, I might have went and got something to eat or something, simple stuff like that, nothing crazy,” he said.
Placido Domingo
Disgraced Spanish opera singer Placido Domingo said on Sunday, March 23, he had tested positive for coronavirus and had gone into self isolation with his family.
"We are currently all in good health but I developed a cough and a fever and decided to get tested, and the result came back positive," Domingo wrote on Facebook.
Previously one of the opera world's most feted artists, Domingo's reputation is now in tatters after an investigation by the American Guild of Musical Artists concluded he had behaved inappropriately with female performers.
The singer has publicly apologised to the women who accused him of sexual harassment.
Sabrina Dhowre Elba
The American model has confirmed she tested positive for coronavirus, almost a week after her husband, Idris Elba, confirmed he contracted the virus. Dhowre Elba, 30, revealed the news in a FaceTime conversation with Oprah Winfrey for the media mogul's new Apple TV+ series, Oprah Talks.
The couple spoke to Winfrey from quarantine in New Mexico, where Elba’s latest film was in production.
“I wanted to be with him. That’s the instinct of a wife. You want to go and take care," Dhowre Elba said. “I don’t feel anything that would come to what people would now expect to be a symptom of coronavirus, which is really strange. It might change in the coming weeks and we’ll keep everyone updated. But it is worrisome that we’re sitting here, two people, and … we’re asymptomatic.”
Mwana FA
The Tanzanian rapper told his 3.4 million followers on Instagram that he had tested positive for coronavirus. He further shared a video showing that he was in self-isolation, adding that people should not panic, but follow hygiene guidelines issued by authorities.
Debi Mazar
The American actress, best known for her roles in Goodfellas and Batman Forever, confirmed on Saturday she had Covid-19. Mazar, 55, told her 400,000 Instagram followers that on March 15, she woke up with body aches and a fever, though she wasn't tested at the time as she didn't meet criteria, having not travelled outside the US or knowingly come into contact with someone with coronavirus.
"Well ... today is day five and I just found out," Mazar said after she was tested on March 17. "I'm hoping I’ve been through the worst of it already. Today my lungs are heavy, but I’m tough. I can breathe and I’m going to heal here, in my own home. My family is under quarantine for 14 days. They have no symptoms. I think we all had it possibly already? Who knows?"
David Bryan
The Jon Bon Jovi keyboardist, 58, confirmed he received a positive test for coronavirus on Saturday.
"I’ve been sick for a week and feeling better each day. Please don’t be afraid!" he said in an Instagram post. "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. Please help out each other. This will be over soon ... with the help of every American."
Andy Cohen
The TV host and producer, 51, known for his work across the Real Housewives franchises, revealed on Saturday that he tested positive.
He said he was feeling well for a few days and so was recording his radio show from home, but has now decided to focus on getting well.
Colton Underwood
The Bachelor star, 28, pleaded with fans to "do yourself and your loved ones a favour and stay home" when he announced he had the virus.
He said he couldn't even go to the bathroom without needing to sit down and that he wanted to encourage people to stay at home.
Daniel Dae Kim
Lost and Hawaii Five-O star Daniel Dae Kim tested positive for Covid-19 and announced the diagnosis in a 10-minute video posted on Instagram on Thursday. The American actor, 51, said he began feeling ill after returning home to Hawaii from New York, where he was filming the series New Amsterdam, in which he plays a doctor working to fight against a flu pandemic.
Kim said he began experiencing body aches, a fever and chest tightness. He had been self-isolating since his return, he said, leaving his home only to go to a drive-through coronavirus testing facility in Honolulu.
However, he's since revealed he's begun to feel better.
Kanika Kapoor
The Baby Doll singer was one of four people diagnosed in the northern Indian city of Lucknow on March 20.
Kapoor confirmed the news on her Instagram account, saying she had felt poorly over the past few days.
“For the past four days I have had signs of flu, I got myself tested and it came positive for Covid-19," she said. "At this stage I would like to urge you all to practise self-isolation and get tested if you have the signs. I am feeling OK, like a normal flu and a mild fever, however we need to be sensible citizens at this time and think of all around us.”
Prince Albert
The royal tested positive for coronavirus but his health was "not a cause for concern", his office said.
"Prince Albert is continuing to work from the office in his private apartments," it said.
Indira Varma
The British actress, who played Ellaria Sand in Game of Thrones, appeared to confirm she has coronavirus in an Instagram post on Wednesday. Varma, 46, had been starring in The Seagull alongside fellow GOT actress Emilia Clarke at the Playhouse Theatre in London. The production was suspended this week as part of widespread measures to stem the spread of the virus in the UK.
"So sad our and so many other shows around the world have gone dark affected by the Covid-19 pandemic," Varma said on Instagram. "We hope to be back soon and urge you all (and the govt) to support us when we do. I’m in bed with it and it’s not nice. Stay safe and healthy and be kind to your fellow people."
Rachel Matthews
The American actress, who voiced the character of Honeymaren in Disney's Frozen 2, revealed she was quarantined at home for a week with coronavirus.
The star, 26, confirmed she was tested after coming into contact with someone who had the virus.
"Our country is very behind, and we don't have much of a system in place," she wrote on Instagram, saying her week-long symptoms included fatigue, a headache, sore throat, dry cough, pain in her lungs, shortness of breath and a lack of appetite.
“There isn’t much to do other than rest, drink lots of water, take vitamins. More than anything, it’s a waiting game.”
NBA star Kevin Durant
The Brooklyn Nets forward tested positive for coronavirus, with the Athletic reporting the diagnosis on Tuesday, March 17.
"Everyone be careful, take care of yourself and quarantine," said Durant, a 10-time NBA All-Star. "We're going to get through this."
The Nets said four of its players were isolated and under the care of team physicians after testing positive for the virus.
The NBA season was suspended because of the pandemic.
Christopher de Leon
The Filipino actor, 63, also tested positive for Covid-19. He is in quarantine with wife, Sandy Andolong, 58, and daughter, Mica.
De Leon announced he tested positive on Tuesday, March 17, without travelling outside the Philippines or knowingly coming into contact with anyone with the virus.
In an Instagram post, he said: "Today, our doctor confirmed that I have Covid-19. I've had no recent travel history outside of the Philippines and no known contact with anyone who is positive to have the virus.
"However, due to the nature of my work in the entertainment business, I have interacted with many people. I therefore ask anyone who has come in contact me within the past week or two to observe stringent self-quarantine, observe for symptoms and follow the triage procedures published by the Department of Health, whether asymptomatic or not.
"Please co-operate with the authorities in their contact tracing efforts. My wife, Sandy, daughter, Mica, and our kasambahay [domestic worker] are in self-quarantine at home."
Idris Elba
On Monday, March 16, the British actor spoke to fans in a two-minute Twitter video, telling them he "tested positive for Covid-19".
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
"This morning I got some test results back for [the] coronavirus, and it came back positive ... and it sucks," he said. "I'm doing OK and Sabrina hasn't been tested, but she's doing OK."
Elba, 47, explained that he sought the test after having dinner with someone who experienced symptoms.
"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."
Olga Kurylenko
The Ukrainian actress, who starred in the 2008 James Bond film Quantum of Solace, revealed she has the virus in an Instagram post of her view from isolation, posted on Monday, March 16.
"Locked up at home after having tested positive for coronavirus," 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!"
She answered a few questions in a second post, in which she thanked fans for their support.
"I wanted to take this opportunity to answer the most common questions that I’ve been asked regarding coronavirus," Kurylenko, 40, wrote. "Why I’m not in hospital? Because hospitals are full and they are only taking patients that are struggling with life, if I understand correctly. I was told that if I get worse to call an ambulance.
"Where I got tested? In the hospital when an ambulance took me there after I called because my fever was over 39.
"How did I get tested? They took a swab from my throat.
"Where did I get coronavirus? Impossible to know. It could be anywhere. I could have touched a taxi handle and gotten it from there. It’s on surfaces!"
She said her condition was improving. "For a week my temperature was stable 38. Sometimes up to 38.5. Today it’s come down."
Kristofer Hivju
The actor, who played Tormund Giantsbane on Game of Thrones, told fans he was isolating himself at home in his native Norway after testing positive.
"Sorry to say that I, today, have tested positive for Covid-19, coronavirus," he wrote, posting a photo of himself with wife, director Gry Molvaer Hivju. "My family and I are self-isolating at home for as long as it takes. We are in good health – I only have mild symptoms of a cold."
He offered advice to his fans. "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 metres distance from others, go in quarantine; just do everything you can to stop the virus from spreading.
"Together we can fight this virus and avert a crisis at our hospitals. Please take care of each other, keep your distance, and stay healthy."
Donovan Mitchell
The Utah Jazz player was in isolation when he announced the coronavirus diagnosis during in a video interview with Good Morning America on Monday, March 16.
"I think that’s the scariest part about this virus is that you may seem fine," he said.
EXCLUSIVE: “I think that’s the scariest part about this virus is that you may seem fine.” @NBA star @spidadmitchell speaks out for the first time from isolation since being diagnosed with COVID-19, despite being “asymptomatic.” https://t.co/i9rZzYvW4s pic.twitter.com/wZJBteQjtV
— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 16, 2020
After the interview, Mitchell took to Twitter to write: "Practise social distancing ... I’m seeing people still out and going to bars, clubs, restaurants, beaches, etc ... as a country let’s help others and stay inside."
I’m seeing people still out and going to bars clubs restaurants beaches etc... as a country let’s help others and stay inside 🙏🏾🙏🏾
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) March 17, 2020
Rudy Gobert
The French basketball player, who also plays for Utah Jazz, went public with the diagnosis a few days before Mitchell, on Friday, March 13.
In his Twitter message, Gobert apologised for touching microphones at a press conference this month.
"At the time, I had no idea I was even infected," he said. "I hope my story serves as a warning and causes everyone to take this seriously. I will do whatever I can to support using my experience as a way to educate others and prevent the spread of this virus."
The NBA posted a second video message from the player, in which he thanked fans for their support. He said was "was feeling a little better every single day, thanks to the healthcare people of Utah".
A message from @rudygobert27 pic.twitter.com/eKV6asutGN
— NBA (@NBA) March 15, 2020
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau
The wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced she tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, March 12.
“She is feeling well, is taking all the recommended precautions and her symptoms remain mild,” the Canadian prime minister’s Office said. "The prime minister is in good health with no symptoms."
Gregoire Trudeau thanked well-wishers for their support. "Although I’m experiencing uncomfortable symptoms of the virus, I will be back on my feet soon," she said.
"Being in quarantine at home is nothing compared to other Canadian families who might be going through this and for those facing more serious health concerns."
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
On Thursday, March 12, the Hollywood couple shocked fans with the announcement they contracted the coronavirus in Australia.
"We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too," Hanks wrote in a post accompanied by a photo of a medical bin and glove. "To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the coronavirus, and were found to be positive."
— Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) March 12, 2020
A day later, he posted a picture of himself with Wilson, saying: "We have Covid-19 and are in isolation so we do not spread it to anyone else. There are those for whom it could lead to a very serious illness. We are taking it one day at a time."
— Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) March 13, 2020
A post quickly followed of a typically Australian snack of Vegemite on toast, as well as a toy kangaroo and koala, with the caption: "Thanks to the helpers. Let’s take care of ourselves and each other."
Hanks and Wilson were released from hospital on Monday, March 16.
Their son, Chet Hanks, updated fans on Instagram. "So quick update on my folks, they're out of the hospital," he said. "They're still self-quarantined, obviously, but they're feeling a lot better."
He urged fans to be "selfless" and to "stay safe" in his Instagram video.
Prince Charles
On Wednesday, March 25, Clarence House announced that Prince Charles tested positive for coronavirus but was displaying mild symptoms and was otherwise "in good health."
A Clarence House statement read: "In accordance with government and medical advice, the prince and the duchess are now self-isolating at home in Scotland.
"The tests were carried out by the NHS in Aberdeenshire, where they met the criteria required for testing.
"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."
Callum Hudson-Odoi
On Friday, March 13, it was announced that Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi had tested positive for the coronavirus. Since the announcement, Chelsea’s full squad has gone into into self-isolation while two buildings at their training facility have also closed. Hudson-Odoi has since sent a message out to his fans on social media, saying that he has recovered and is practising self-isolation.
Several football players, including Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, also tested positive for Covid-19. Read more here.
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