Gry Molvær Hivju (L) and Kristofer Hivju attend the 2020 Sundance Film Festival – “Downhill” Premiere at Eccles Center Theatre on January 26, 2020 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
“Game of Thrones” and “The Witcher” actor Kristofer Hivju announced he contracted the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
“Greetings from Norway! Sorry to say that I, today, have tested positive for COVID19, Corona virus,” the 41-year-old actor wrote under a photo of him and his wife, Gry Hivju.
“My familiy [sic] and I are self-isolating at home for as long as it takes. We are in good health – I only have mild symptoms of a cold,” he continued. “There are people at higher risk for who this virus might be a devastating diagnosis, so I urge all of you to be extremely careful; wash your hands, keep 1,5 meters [1.6 yards] distance from others, go in quarantine; just do everything you can to stop the virus from spreading.”
The actor, who played Tormund Giantsbane on “Game of Thrones,” said that “together we can fight this virus and avert a crisis at our hospitals.”
He added, “Please take care of each other, keep your distance, and stay healthy! Please visit your country’s Center for Disease Control’s website, and follow the regulations for staying safe and protecting not just yourselves, but our entire community, and especially those at risk like the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions.”
It comes as British actor Idris Elba announced he contracted the virus, which first emerged in mainland China last year before officials failed to stop its spread to other countries.
Olga Kurylenko, a Ukrainian-born actress who appeared in James Bond film “Quantum of Solace,” also announced a positive test for the virus on social media.
And last week, Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, said they tested positive. A spokesman for Hanks said they were released from the hospital Monday and are now in self-isolation.
