Idris Elba tested positive for the coronavirus, the actor announced on Monday afternoon.
Elba, 47, revealed the diagnosis on social media, saying, “It sucks,” but added that he’s “doing OK.”
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Elba, who has had roles in HBO’s The Wire and Thor, said he was not feeling symptomatic but got tested out of an abundance of caution because he had been in contact with someone who was later diagnosed with the virus.
“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,” he wrote, following with two fist emojis, a promise to keep his fans updated, and the words, “No panic.”
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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 said he was exposed to the virus last Friday and self-quarantined from that point forward.
Elba encouraged people to be “vigilant” when it comes to following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, including washing hands often and avoiding large crowds.
The actor called for people to come together to contend with the virus. He also warned that people who feel healthy could still be infected and unknowingly pass the illness to others.
Other celebrities, including actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson, have been diagnosed with the virus.
COVID-19 has infected more than 175,000 around the world and led to the deaths of more than 7,000 people, according to Johns Hopkins University.
