In a conversation with Oprah Winfrey, Sabrina Dhowre Elba
revealed that she has the coronavirus just one week after her husband, Idris Elba, tested positive.
“I FaceTimed Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina who are safely quarantined together after he tested positive for COVID-19. Idris fills me in on his journey and Sabrina reveals the result of her test after they decided to quarantine together,” Winfrey said.
Dhowre Elba told Winfrey on her Apple TV+ program Oprah Talks COVID-19 that she chose to stick beside her husband during this time.
“I tested positive. As soon as I heard that Idris was potentially exposed, I mean, I was on my way anyway, I wanted to be with him. I think that’s an instinct as a wife. You just want to go and take care. We didn’t change the way we interacted. I could have made a decision to put myself maybe in a separate room or stay away, and I’m sure that people are making those decisions that are tough decisions to make. But I made the decision to be with him and still touch him,” 30-year-old Dhowre Elba said.
When Elba first announced his diagnosis, fans commented that it was strange Dhowre Elba was staying so close to him.
This morning I tested positive for Covid 19. 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. pic.twitter.com/Lg7HVMZglZ
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) March 16, 2020
Elba, however, said his wife was with him during the time he believes he contracted the virus, so there was little point in separating, despite larger calls for increased social distancing.
“If I had caught it, she had certainly caught it in that time period as well,” he told Winfrey.
Dhowre Elba managed to get tested despite not having any symptoms, which has angered many people as actors and athletes who are asymptomatic get tested despite a shortage of testing kits. The actor himself addressed the criticism, saying that as a person with asthma he is at high risk.
The two are now quarantined in New Mexico where Elba is shooting a new film. As an actor on set, the company behind the movie told him he had to get tested out of fear he would infect other actors and stuntpeople.
He has spoken at length about the virus and addressed rumors about it. Elba also shared his thoughts about how the virus will affect humanity.
"Our world has been taking a kicking. We have damaged our world and it's no surprise that our world is reacting to the human race. It is no surprise that a virus has been created that is going to slow us down and, ultimately, make us think differently about our world and ourselves. For me, that's a stand-out thing that is really obvious. This is almost like the world's cry out. 'Like: 'Hey, hey, hey — you are kicking me and what you're doing is not good, so we will get rid of you.' As any organism would do, [the world] is trying to get rid of an infection, and maybe this is it for the world," he said.
