Idris Elba has suggested that he may have caught coronavirus from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s wife Sophie, 44, after the two met shortly before they both tested positive for COVID-19.
The actor, 47, revealed in a video shared to Twitter on Tuesday night that he was exposed to the deadly disease on 4 March, the same day he posed with Sophie at the We Day UK charity event, in Wembley.
Idris said: ‘It’s hard to say when I got the disease or when I contracted COVID-19, it’s hard to say when. I will say that I know I’ve been exposed to it from March 4.
New video: Idris Elba has suggested that he may have caught coronavirus from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ‘s wife Sophie, 44, after the two met shortly before they both tested positive for COVID-19
‘That’s when the person that came up positive, that was the time I got in contact with that person.
‘So essentially, I could have been positive from March 4, but it’s hard to say when I contracted someone with corona, you can contract it at anytime but my known exposure was March 4.’
Idris met Trudeau’s wife Sophie, who has also been tested positive for COVID-19, on 4 March at a We Day UK charity event, in Wembley.
Posing for photos together at the event, the pair were in close proximity to each other, as well as other celebrities such as Lewis Hamilton, and attendees.
Interaction: The actor, 47, revealed in a video shared to Twitter on Tuesday night that he was exposed to the deadly disease on 4 March, the same day he posed with Sophie at the We Day UK charity event, in Wembley (pictured on March 4, at We Day UK event)
The actor also added in the video: ‘On Friday, last week, I was told that someone I had been in contact with had tested positive.
‘I am on location about to start filming. The news breaks that this person, who is also in the public eye, has tested positive.’
Idris then addressed backlash as to why he was tested for COVID-19 after he had ‘no symptoms’ and ‘felt ok’.
He also explained why his wife Sabrina has stayed by his side after fans criticised the model for putting herself at risk of exposure.
Idris said he was on location and about to start filming, he added: ‘It was definitely something I had to do as I was about to start filming and be around a lot of people.
Brave: Idris also addressed backlash as to why his wife Sabrina has stayed by his side after fans criticised the model for putting herself at risk of exposure (pictured on Monday’s video)
‘My job made me test immediately, I had to test anyway, as it meant I was putting a lot of people at risk if I had been exposed. We were lucky to get a test very quickly because of the shortages of the test.
‘It was the best thing to do, I was going to be around a lot of people starting this film.’
Idris went on to reveal that wife Sabrina, who has stayed by his side since he was diagnosed, has been tested for coronavirus and is ‘nervous’ about the results.
The actor also insisted that the model ‘wanted to be by my side’ and support him throughout the disease diagnosis.
Inspired: Idris revealed he was inspired to share his coronavirus story after fellow actor Tom Hanks also shared that he tested positive for COVID-19 (pictured with wife Rita, who has also tested positive for the disease)
He said: ‘Sabrina’s good too. Sabrina today finally managed to get a test, and we’re thankful for that. Generally, Sabrina’s fine. Nervous of course. Worried.
‘Just for clarification, Sabrina wanted to be by my side. We calculated that risk and decided to be together. Hope you guys can understand that.’
Idris added that his wife woke up this morning ‘a little bit sad’ over the backlash, he said: ‘She’s doing okay. We’re very lucky we managed to get her a test this morning. She woke up this morning a little bit sad as I did.
‘Yesterday was a lot for us. My wife isn’t used to the public eye as I am and yesterday we were the biggest story in the world. It was weird because people were criticising her for being beside me and that was bananas.’
Idris also spoke about how he is feeling and admitted that her is worried about the disease as he suffers from asthma.
He said: ‘I have asthma, so I sort of fit into the high category of most at risk. I have a respiratory issue and I have had asthma all my life. Catching corona was definitely not on my bucket list at all but even my asthma is OK.
‘Of course I’m worried. I’m worried about having the virus, I’m worried about having asthma and how that could make things really complicated for me really quickly.’
Idris revealed he was inspired to share his coronavirus story after fellow actor Tom Hanks also shared that he tested positive for COVID-19.
Appearance: At the We Day UK charity event, Idris had been at the event to discuss social issues with 12,000 schoolchildren and teachers, while Sophie has been working alongside the charity
At the We Day UK charity event, Idris had been at the event to discuss social issues with 12,000 schoolchildren and teachers, while Sophie has been working alongside the charity.
Taking to Instagram to share a picture of the two of them together, she gushed: ‘My heart is full after spending time working with my own family and the WE family. Our message in London: Show yourself love and offer that same love to the world.’
Sophie announced she tested positive for the virus last week and had gone into self quarantine, while Idris revealed on Monday that he had coronavirus.
At the charity event, Idris discussed how to combat rising knife crime, as he said of his own experience growing up in London: ‘Happy is my normal. Yes, there was crime. Yes, there was poverty. Yes, there were gangs.
On stage: Sophie has been working alongside the charity, and discussed this during her appearance at the event (pictured on 4 March at the event)
Advice: At the event, Idris told attendees: ‘Speak out about what matters – whether that is fighting against knife crime, global hunger, housing, education, sexism, combating racism’
‘Some of the people I grew up with, people I saw around the neighbourhood, went down the wrong path, ended up doing the wrong thing.
‘I was different. I was lucky, maybe. I wanted different things. I was an only child by immigrant parents from Sierra Leone, West Africa.
‘And they worked hard for what they had. This way of life taught me the importance of independence and relying on myself for my own success.’
Idris continued: ‘You are all capable of making an impact so speak out about what matters – whether that is fighting against knife crime, global hunger, housing, education, sexism, combating racism.
‘We all need to be conscious about the world we live in because it is our responsibility to make things better together.’
This comes after Idris was praised by the Director-General of the World Health Organisation for his ‘brave and powerful message’ after confirming he has coronavirus.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, 55, took to Twitter on Tuesday to commend the actor for speaking about COVID-19, telling him to ‘take care and stay strong’.
Idris revealed on Monday he had been tested positive for coronavirus and that he and his wife Sabrina, 29, have gone into self isolation.
Dr Tedros wrote: ‘Take care and stay strong, @idriselba! I admire your brave and powerful message to the world. We’re all in this together. Solidarity will beat the #coronavirus. #COVID19.’
Idris said in his video message he ‘feels ok’ and has no symptoms but has decided to self-isolate following his exposure to COVID-19.
Idris shared the video with the caption: ‘This morning I tested positive for Covid 19.
Inspiring: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, 55, took to Twitter on Tuesday to commend Idris’ for his bravery for speaking about COVID-19 (pictured last month)
Stay strong: Dr Tedros wrote: ‘Take care and stay strong, @idriselba! I admire your brave and powerful message to the world. We’re all in this together. Solidarity will beat the #coronavirus’
Isolating: Idris revealed he has tested positive for the coronavirus via Twitter on Monday
‘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.’
Idris confirmed at the time that wife Sabrina had not yet been tested but said that she also ‘feels ok’ at the moment.
Isolating: ‘Stay home people and be pragmatic. I will keep you updated on how I’m doing. No panic,’ Idris said
The Luther star added he only got tested after coming into contact with someone who later confirmed that they had coronavirus, before quarantining himself and getting tested ‘immediately’.
He received the news of his results on Monday.
‘Look, this is serious,’ he continued. ‘Now is the time to start thinking about social distancing, washing your hands. Beyond that there are people out there who aren’t showing symptoms, and that can easily spread it.
Keep calm: The Luther star added he only got tested after coming into contact with someone who later confirmed that they had coronavirus
Reassured: The pair have also told their families and colleagues. Idris finished the clip by saying ‘stay positive and don’t freak out’ (pictured in December 2019)
‘So now is the time to be really vigilant about washing your hands, and keeping your distance.’
The pair have also told their families and colleagues. Idris finished the clip by saying ‘stay positive and don’t freak out’.
Fans were quick to share their best wishes with the star, praising him for using his platform to encourage people to take more precautions.
Take action: ‘Look, this is serious,’ he continued. ‘Now is the time to start thinking about social distancing, washing your hands’
Actress Ava DuVernay wrote: ‘Thank you, @idriselba, for using your platform to educate and inform. No symptoms, but positive.’
But others were quick to point out that his wife Sabrina should have separated herself, as she had not yet been tested for the virus.
Another follower commented: ‘If you are positive, and Sabrina has not been tested then why are you anywhere near her?’
The news comes a week after Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson tested positive for the novel coronavirus during a holiday to the Gold Coast in Australia.
The Forrest Gump actor and his wife, both 63, announced the positive test results on Instagram urging the public to ‘take care’.
Hanks revealed they had experienced symptoms including the common cold, body aches and chills before they decided to get tested.
Taken ill: The news comes a week after Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson tested positive for the novel coronavirus during a holiday to the Gold Coast in Australia (pictured in February at the Oscars)
Before their diagnosis, the couple had visited crowded Australian hotspots including Bondi Beach and the Sydney Opera House – raising fears that others were infected.
The opera house have been trying to track down 207 people who could have come into contact with the couple at a concert.
And on Sunday night, former Bond girl Olga Kurylenko announced she had tested positive for the now-widespread virus.
Star fever: Bond girl Olga Kurylenko – who starred opposite Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace (pictured 2008) – has tested positive for coronavirus
The 40-year-old, who played Camille Montes in 2008’s Quantum of Solace, said she was diagnosed after feeling ‘ill for almost a week’ with fever and fatigue.
She is now facing days in isolation and posted a picture of her locked window on Instagram last night as she revealed she was ‘locked up at home’.
The Soviet-born actress added: ‘Fever and fatigue are my main symptoms. Take care of yourself and do take this seriously!’
Taken ill: The actress (pictured in a photo she shared with her social media followers) said she was taking paracetamol and eating garlic
Under the weather: The 40-year-old, who played Camille Montes in 2008’s Quantum of Solace, said she was diagnosed after feeling ‘ill for almost a week’ with fever and fatigue
