GMA’s George Stephanopoulos claims he’s ‘cleared’ of coronavirus after host spotted on walk without mask
GOOD Morning America anchor George Stephanopoulos has claimed he has been "cleared" of coronavirus by medics after he was spotted on walk without a face mask.
Last week, George announced he had tested positive for COVID-19 on the morning talk show - two weeks after his wife Ali Wentworth, contracted the deadly virus.
The ABC host had already irked Hamptons residents by going out in public after his wife contracted Covid-19 and was pictured on Monday afternoon taking a stroll in East Hampton with his mask hanging around his neck.
In the shot obtained by the New York Post, the journalist wore a pair of shorts for the mile-long walk and appeared engrossed in a long conversation on his mobile phone.
An eye-witness told the publication: "For somebody who reports on the pandemic every day, and is broadcasting guidelines about safe social distancing, George didn’t really seem to care."
In light of the furor, George took to Twitter today to confirm that he had overcome the virus and was now donating his blood plasma to help others battling COVID-19.
He penned: "Good news for me and my family.
"Last week I tested positive for Covid antibodies, confirming I cleared the virus after weeks without symptoms.
"I've also signed up for a clinical trial to donate my blood plasma and expect to make the donation in the coming weeks."
The post was met with much support, although some followers questioned the timing of his announcement and shared links to the article that saw him out on Monday without his mask.
His tweet comes just days after one of his neighbors in the Hamptons accused him of not taking enough precautions to prevent the spread.
The 59-year-old's visit to a drugstore and dog-walk on a local golf course caused one of his neighbors in the up-scale area to take umbrage.
“If you know someone’s wife has corona and the wife has been very very sick with it, do you think that the husband should be out at pharmacies picking up prescriptions when the pharmacy delivers and does curbside pickup?” local neighbor Carrie Doyle wrote last Friday in a since-deleted Facebook message that was seen by the New York Post.
The pharmacy in question was a White’s Apothecary in East Hampton, according to a source close to the situation reports Page Six.
She admitted that he was taking precautions, but apparently was still not happy to see him visit the pharmacy.
“Even though he is wearing a mask, would it still be disconcerting for you to see that he has been standing several feet away from you for ten minutes while you talked to the pharmacist?” Doyle continued.
“If your answer is yes than [sic] please tweet GEORGE STEPHANOPOLOUS [sic] to stay the hell home!!!!!!!!!”
Stephanopoulos had revealed his diagnosis over a week ago, but said that he hadn't suffered any symptoms.
“I’m one of those cases that are basically asymptomatic. I’ve never had a fever, never had chills, never had a headache, never had a cough, never had shortness of breath," he said on GMA.
“Thanks for letting me know that now George Stephanopolous [sic] has admitted he tested positive for Corona,” Doyle shot back on Facebook on Monday afternoon.
“Below is a picture of George trespassing on the Maidstone golf course on Saturday. He was not wearing his mask."
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Meanwhile, his wife Ali Wentworth came out of 16 days of isolation last week, after battling coronavirus.
Last Monday, she shared a video of her husband clapping as she emerged down the stairs after a "brutal and scary time."
Ali admitted she knew she was "one of the lucky ones," as she revealed she was also "grateful to be back to everything" before joking: "Except laundry and dishes."
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