George Stephanopoulos: Good Morning America host reveals he has coronavirus live on air

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday

Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

George Stephanopoulos, the host of Good Morning America, has confirmed he was diagnosed with Covid-19 on live-television and said he was not experiencing major symptoms after his wife also contracted the novel virus.

“I’ve never had a fever,” he said about his symptoms since testing positive for Covid-19. “Never had chills, never had a headache, never had a cough, never had shortness of breath.”

He added: “I’m feeling great.”

Mr Stephanopoulos said it was “no surprise” that he contracted the coronavirus because he had been interacting with and take care of wife, actress Ali Wentworth, after she had also tested positive and developed more significant symptoms.

Ms Wentworth, who tested positive about two weeks ago, previously said she suffered a “high fever, horrific body aches and heavy chest” after contracting the virus.

The 59-year-old news anchor said his wife was feeling “much, much better” and on her fifth day “with no fever, which is a really great sign”.

She was “slowly getting out of bed a little bit more each day,” Mr Stephanopoulos said on Monday, “so really happy about that.”

His announcement comes as more than 526,000 Americans across the country have tested positive for the coronavirus, with a death toll of more than 20,000 people that continues to rise each day.

Governors throughout the US have issued lockdown and stay-at-home orders as the White House extended its social distancing guidelines for an additional 30 days.

Globally, more than 100,000 people have died due to complications from the novel virus, and over 1.8 million have contracted Covid-19.

Health officials have noted those figures are likely far higher, however, due to issues in distributing tests in some countries like the US, as well as a lack of people self-reporting their symptoms since many who contract the illness only suffer those of a common cold or mild flu.

“I’m one of those cases that are basically asymptomatic,” Mr Stephanopoulos said on Monday.

As Mr Stephanopoulos confirmed his coronavirus diagnosis, he also celebrated the life of Good Morning America producer Thea Trachtenberg, who passed away during the weekend.

Ms Trachtenberg, who served as a producer on the show for 20 years and was a two-time cancer survivor, was not believed to have tested positive for coronavirus. Rather, she was “battling serious heart and lung disease for some time”, according to a memo reportedly sent to staff by senior executive producer Michael Corn.

Mr Stephanopoulos described the producer as a “force on this show and a mentor to so many on our staff and a colleague and friend with a biting wit, skeptical eye and a very big heart”.