Idris Elba Is Latest Star to Test Positive for Coronavirus

Actor Idris Elba announced on Twitter that he has tested positive for the coronavirus.

The star told fans, “This morning I got some test results back for Coronavirus and it came back positive, yeah, and it sucks. Listen, I'm doing okay. Sabrina hasn't been tested and she's doing okay.”

Elba had no symptoms, but got tested after he found he was exposed to someone who later tested positive for COVID-19. “I found out last Friday that they tested positive. I quarantined myself and got tested immediately and got the test results back today.”

He urged everyone to take precautions, saying, “This is serious, you know, this is the time to really think about social distancing, wash your hands. Beyond that there are people out there who are not showing symptoms and that can easily spread it. Now is the time to be vigilant about washing your hands and keeping your distance.”

Idris insisted, “Now is the time for solidarity and now is the time for thinking of each other… So many people's lives have been affected from those who have lost people that they love to those who don't even have it who have lost their livelihoods. This is real.”

He promised to keep everyone up to date, adding, “So far we are feeling okay.”

Elba signed off by saying, “Stay positive and don't freak out.”

Other stars diagnosed with coronavirus include Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, who were recently released from an Australia hospital and are now recovering at a private home.

On Sunday, Bond actress Olga Kurylenko wrote on Instagram, “Locked up at home after having tested positive for Coronavirus. 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!”

Utah Jazz basketball player Donovan Mitchell, who confirmed his positive test last week, also opened up about his diagnosis on Monday. In a video interview, he told “Good Morning America's” Robin Roberts, “I'm fine, things are going well, just in isolation. Got a unique set-up, but no fever, no symptoms as of right now. I'm just blessed to be able to be ok. Right now, just the biggest thing for me is to stay in isolation and just keep to myself, you know. I have no symptoms, which is a unique situation.”

He added, “I'm asymptomatic, you know, I don't have any symptoms. I could walk down the street if it wasn't public knowledge that I was sick. You wouldn't know it. I think that's the scariest part about this virus, is that you can seem fine, be fine, and you never know who you may be talking to and who they're going home to.”

As for the coronavirus test, Mitchell said, “For me it was a swab down the throat. It was about 15 seconds of probably the most discomfort I've ever had and I ended up crying, like tears falling from my eyes. It was definitely unique, but I'm glad I was able to get it done.”

Mitchell tested positive after it was revealed that his teammate Rudy Gobert was diagnosed with the virus. Gobert, mocking safety protocols, had touched reporters' recording equipment days before his positive test, for which he has since apologized. Mitchell admitted, “It took a while for me to kind of cool off. I read what [Gobert] said and I'm glad he's doing okay, and I'm glad I'm doing well. I'm really happy, to be honest, that it's just — I hate to say this — two of us, but it wasn't the whole party. At the end of the day, neither him or I have children at home. I know some teammates that have children and some staff that have children at home. So I'm glad that we were able to kind of contain it as much as possible.”

Meanwhile, a “Today” show staffer has tested positive for the virus, as well as four employees at the CBS Broadcast Center in NYC.

Heidi Klum and her husband Tom Kaulitz are awaiting test results, as is former “Bachelorette” star Ali Fedotowsky.