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What was once a mere historical flu has spread into a catastrophic illness that’s racing across the world, affecting millions it meets. The total number of new cases of COVID-19—the disease caused by the coronavirus—has increased daily, and some of the most well-known celebrities have tested positive for the illness which has symptoms of high fever, headache, and extreme body aches. In the celebrity atmosphere, the affected numbers that the virus initially started with were those involved in the NBA but has now spread like wildfire and is making its way through Hollywood.
Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba were some of the first black celebrities to be diagnosed with COVID-19. After attending a massive event in London, Elba and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus. However contagious the virus is suggested to be, it has been noted that the event in London was not the place that affected him. Elba did announce that he and his wife were asymptomatic and were doing well. Utah Jazz teammates Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell have both tested positive for the virus which has prompted the NBA to suspend the remainder of its season. Along with this NBA team, the Los Angeles Lakers players have also announced that two of their teammates have tested positive and are currently in quarantine under the care of the team’s primary physician.
This pandemic has created a “new normal” for everyone. When this pandemic initially started people were sent home to start working remotely and some were furloughed, face masks were optional and daily exercise become a must to keep parents sane while they started homeschooling. With the spread of this pandemic, we saw face masks and gloves become mandatory, businesses shut down, grocery stores wiped clean and store hours shortened to prevent the spread of this illness. The country was a relatively “safe” environment when people were obeying the rules. However, even the most matriculate of people became infected by the virus. Rapper Slim Thug said that despite staying at home, he still contracted COVID-19. As careful as the rapper was during self-quarantining, he still contracted an illness, and his test for coronavirus came back positive. Even the famous rapper Scarface has encountered it and has described his battle during an interview with Geto Boys member Willie D.
The coronavirus has it out for most of the world’s population. Broadway star Brian Stokes has been infected and states that his recovery keeps getting better and better. BeBe Winans and his family have been hospitalized and are patiently awaiting recovery. Even though COVID-19 has a large number of recovered patients, many have died. Troy Sneed, a widely loved gospel artist, died late April due to complications from the illness. And later it was revealed that rapper Fred the Godson passed after contracting COVID-19.
It’s no myth that this pandemic has taken its toll on the world and the black community. As restrictions continue to lift, please remember to take precautions and guard yourself against activities that could bring devastation to you and your loved ones.
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