Greta Thunberg has revealed she most likely had coronavirus (COVID-19) and is currently self-isolating, using her enormous platform to urge young people to pay attention to the other gripping global crisis of our times.
The climate activist, 17, took to Instagram this morning to say she experienced minor flu-like symptoms in self-isolation after travelling through Europe with her father.
Thunberg’s home nation, Sweden, limits COVID-19 testing to at-risk individuals, meaning she never got confirmation. But her dad’s symptoms, combined with the explosion of cases in Europe, leads her to believe she had the virus.
“Now I’ve basically recovered, but – AND THIS IS THE BOTTOM LINE: I almost didn’t feel ill,” she said.
“My last cold was much worse than this! Had it not been for someone else having the virus simultainously [sic] I might not even have suspected anything.”
Australian health authorities state COVID-19 appears to affect children and young people differently to the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions, and that’s a big reason why our schools are still open.
But Thunberg’s message is that young people, who may not even recognise the symptoms of COVID-19 or could carry the virus while totally symptom free, should still do their bit to stay the hell away from others.
“We who don’t belong to a risk group have an enormous responsibility, our actions can be the difference between life and death for many others,” she said.
You can read her full statement below. Get better soon, kid.
If you think you may have coronavirus, either call your doctor (DON’T visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. If you’re struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
