"Listen, I'm fine," said Idris Elba before telling the fans, "this is serious."
New York:
British actor Idris Elba is the youngest celebrity to test positive for coronavirus. He tweeted in a video Monday that he had no symptoms yet but was quarantined.
"It sucks," the 47-year-old said in a clip, saying he was tested on Friday because he found that he had been exposed by someone who had also tested positive.
"Listen, I'm fine," said Elba, before telling the fans, "this is serious."
"Now is the time to really think about social distancing and wash your hands," he continued. "There are people out there who show no symptoms and who can spread it easily.
"Transparency is probably the best thing for it right now."
Elba encouraged anyone who felt sick to crouch and take a test if possible, while expressing solidarity with others who have the virus that infected at least 175,530 people with 7,007 deaths worldwide.
This morning I tested positive for Covid 19. I feel fine, I have had no symptoms yet, but have been isolated since I found out about my possible exposure to the virus. Stay home and be pragmatic. I'll keep you posted on how I'm doing. No panic. pic.twitter.com/Lg7HVMZglZ
– Idris Elba (@idriselba), March 16, 2020
The Wire Star also expressed condolences to those who are close or have lost their economic existence when companies around the world were closed.
"We are currently living in a divided world, we can all feel it," said Elba. "But now is the time for solidarity. Now is the time for thinking about each other."
Elba joins actor colleague Tom Hanks and his wife, actress and singer Rita Wilson on the list of celebrities who have tested positive for the virus.
The Hollywood couple is currently in quarantine in Australia.
(Except for the headline, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and published from a syndicated feed.)
