Her son, Charles Shaffer, is a doctor and has been working at the New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center since the outbreak started.
Taking it to Instagram, the 70-year-old journalist uploaded a video on the photo-sharing platform and shared her son’s diagnosis. In the video, Wintour noted that her son is “quite ill” and “self-quarantining at home” away from his family after working closely with the coronavirus patients.
She further added that she is really proud of her son for doing the best he could to combat the deadly illness and admitted that he will return to save lives once he feels alright.
Apart from her son, Wintour also expressed gratitude toward all the medical professionals who are working without even thinking of taking a break from their duty.
“My son is a doctor. He is currently quite ill and self-quarantining at home, away from his wife and his two small daughters.
But when he is able, he will return to the ICU at his local hospital. I am so proud of him and so grateful to all the health workers, first responders, nurses, and doctors, who are fighting to reduce the spread of the virus,” Wintour said.
The video message was part of the special initiative called A Common Thread. The campaign was started by Vogue and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) to help people who are struggling to make a livelihood amid the pandemic.
Later in the clip, Wintour explained why they decided to come up with such an initiative and noted that it was really important for them to help all the designers and the employees who work with them, so that their lives could return to normal. The pandemic has forced every major brand to close its doors for the public and cancel their planned fashion events.
“I have been speaking to so many American designers and others in the community who fear that they won’t make their payroll or have had their orders returned, stores closed, who fear that their businesses and their livelihoods may not survive what we’re going through,” Wintour said.
Other fashion brands like Chanel, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Ralph Lauren have also been helping during the pandemic. The brands are making protective gear for health care workers. Chanel is also one of the few brands to promise its employees that their jobs are safe and they will get full salaries for the next eight weeks.