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Coronavirus: Game of Thrones star Kristofer Hivju tests positive for Covid-19

Actor shared a message from Norway that informed fans he had experienced ‘only mild symptoms’

Roisin O'Connor
Tuesday 17 March 2020 09:02 GMT
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Game of Thrones star Kristofer Hivju is the latest Hollywood actor to test positive for coronavirus.

The 41-year-old, best-known for playing the loveable character Tormund on the hit HBO series, shared his diagnosis on Instagram and told fans he is currently self-quarantining in Norway with his family.

“Sorry to say that I, today, have tested positive for COVID19, Corona virus,” Hivju wrote. “My family 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. 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 distance from others, go in quarantine; just do everything you can to stop the virus from spreading.

“Together we can fight this virus and avert a crisis at our hospitals. Please take care of each other, keep your distance, and stay healthy!”

Hiviu’s diagnosis comes shortly after he was cast in the second season of Netflix’s fantasy show The Witcher.

Other actors to have tested positive for coronavirus including Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson, Idris Elba, and former Bond star Olga Kurylenko.

Hanks and Wilson have since left hospital after testing positive in Australia, where Hanks was filming Baz Luhrmann’s currently untitled Elvis Presley project.

Elba confirmed his diagnosis and also revealed he had not felt any symptoms prior to testing positive for Covid-19. The actor also urged his followers to “really think about social distancing [and] washing your hands".

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Ukraine-born actor and model Olga Kurylenko said she had been feeling ill for a week, and that “fever and fatigue” were her main symptoms.

The coronavirus pandemic has also caused the global shutdown or postponement of a number of major film, TV and music projects, including Grey’s Anatomy, Jurassic World: Dominion, Fantastic Beasts 3, and the Avatar sequels.

Events including SXSW, the Met Gala, Coachella and the ACM Awards have also been postponed or cancelled.

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