Even Top Celebrities and Politicians Fall Victim to Covid-19
Politicians, sporting stars and Hollywood celebrities are among those diagnosed with Covid-19
One thing the coronavirus pandemic has proved is that it makes no difference who you are – no one is immune.
Politicians, sporting stars and Hollywood celebrities are among those dealing with the virus.
Here’s a round up of public figures around the world who have been diagnosed with Covid-19.
Sport
Callum Hudson-Odoi
Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has tested positive for coronavirus as the pandemic continues to strike the sporting world.
In the early hours of Friday, Chelsea said the full men’s team squad, coaching staff and a number of backroom staff would self-isolate after Hudson-Odoi returned a positive test.
Mikel Arteta
Arsenal confirmed that their Spanish head coach Mikel Arteta has tested positive for coronavirus and the entire Gunners first-team squad would be placed into self-isolation.
Hours later the Premier League, acting on government advice, said that all this weekend’s fixtures would be postponed.
Arsenal managing director Vinai Venkatesham said: “Our thoughts are with Mikel, who is disappointed but in good spirits.
“We are in active dialogue with all the relevant people to manage this situation appropriately, and we look forward to getting back to training and playing as soon as medical advice allows.”
Olympiakos’ owner
Arsenal’s league match at Manchester City was postponed and several Gunners players went into self-isolation after Olympiakos and Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis contracted the virus.
Marinakis, 52, met a number of Arsenal’s players and staff when the Gunners faced Olympiakos in a Europa League tie in February.
Rudy Gobert
Utah Jazz NBA player Rudy Gobert has confirmed he has Covid-19.
“What would kill the NBA season is if more players catch it,” Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said in an interview on CNBC.
He called the hiatus a matter of “us being vigilant, as all businesses should be”.
“Businesses are going to have to be incredibly vigilant, and that’s hard,” Cuban said.
Donovan Mitchell
A day after the NBA put its season on temporary suspension, a second member of the Utah Jazz, Donovan Mitchell, tested positive for coronavirus.
The league said its suspension would last for at least 30 days – possibly a conservative guess – as teams undertake the task of identifying any player or referee who has had recent contact with the Jazz, then putting them into isolation for the required two weeks.
Manolo Gabbiadini
Former Southampton striker Manolo Gabbiadini, now at Sampdoria, has also tested positive for coronavirus.
Fernando Gaviria
Colombian cyclist Fernando Gaviria, who was participating in the UAE Tour prior to its cancellation last month, has confirmed he had the virus.
Gaviria, who had remained in quarantine in the UAE, said in a video message on Instagram: “There are many rumours circulating in regard to my state of health, but I’m fine. I’ve been here, undergoing regular tests, which have returned positive for the coronavirus, but I’m feeling fine.”
Other riders and staff from Gaviria’s UAE Team Emirates had been in voluntary quarantine since February 27 but have now announced they are to travel to Europe.
Politics
Trudeau
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife has tested positive for coronavirus.
The Prime Minister’s office said Mr Trudeau was not showing any symptoms of the virus, but he would stay in isolation for 14 days and work from home.
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau came down with flu-like symptoms after travelling to London.
She became sick after returning home from a visit to the UK last week and is also isolating herself at home, according to a statement which said her condition has improved but out of an abundance of caution she is being tested for Covid-19.
Mrs Grégoire Trudeau was in London to speak at a WE day event at Wembley about women’s empowerment alongside former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard and pop star Leona Lewis to an audience of 13,000 young people.
Begona Gomez, the wife of Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, has also been infected. The government said that Mrs Gomez and the prime minister are in good health.
Nadine Dorries
Minister Nadine Dorries is self-isolating at home after being diagnosed with the illness.
Fellow health minister Edward Argar is also self-isolating at home “as a precaution” after having lunch with Ms Dorries on Thursday, the day she started to feel unwell.
Ms Dorries said she felt weak and tired on Thursday.
“But [I] didn’t start with the first symptoms (cough) until 10.45am on Friday,” she wrote on Twitter.
Ms Dorries said it had been “pretty rubbish, but I hope I’m over the worst of it now”.
“More worried about my 84-year-old mum who is staying with me and began with the cough today.”
Nicola Zingaretti
Italian politician Nicola Zingaretti has tested positive to coronavirus.
The leader of the co-ruling Democratic party is the first leading Italian politician to test positive.
Mr Zingaretti is the brother of Montalbano star Luca Zingaretti.
Culture
Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks announced on Thursday that he and wife Rita Wilson have been diagnosed with coronavirus.
The Oscar-winning actor, 63, has been in Australia filming an upcoming Elvis Presley biopic and said he started experiencing symptoms of the virus.
Hanks said he felt like he had a cold, while Wilson, also 63, suffered from chills.
They have both tested positive for coronavirus, Hanks said on Instagram.
“Well, now. What to do next? The medical officials have protocols that must be followed,” he said.
“We Hanks will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?
“We’ll keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves!”