Colton Underwood Is Proof That Social Distancing Works!

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Former "Bachelor" Colton Underwood was one of the first celebrities to be diagnosed with COVID-19 during the early days of the outbreak. Here he talks about the moment he realized what he had was no ordinary flu and the measures he took to protect his loved ones.

Video Transcript

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: And you actually had COVID-19?

COLTON UNDERWOOD: I did, really early on. And yeah, I don't know. Now, looking back, I think maybe that was a good time, if you're going to get it, to get it early on. I don't know. I think I used the-- hopefully used the platform to just speak out and let people know that it affects people of all ages. Just because I think at the time I got diagnosed, there was still partiers on the beaches in Florida. So it's a crazy time, and things have been changing rapidly.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Mm-hmm. And how did you know that things were a little more advanced than just a normal flu? What kind of was the time that you were like, I to go to a doctor?

COLTON UNDERWOOD: Well, yeah, I thought I had the flu at first, and then I woke up one night with night sweats. The bed was completely soaking wet, my body was aching, and I was gasping for air. So I decided to get up and go to the bathroom. And when I went to walk to the bathroom, I had to sit down on the toilet just because I was, like, exhausted.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Wow.

COLTON UNDERWOOD: So I think in that moment, I was pretty much like, yeah, I'm pretty much checking every box off for this thing, so I need to get tested. And I was very fortunate and very lucky to get tested the next day.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Gotcha. And did anybody else around you have it? Like, did Cassie end up getting it or any of your family or her family?

COLTON UNDERWOOD: No, see, that's the strange thing is nobody got it. I think it was in due to practicing social distancing, and we followed the guidelines from the local health department, the doctor as soon as I tested positive, as far as gloves, masks, dropping food off, water up when I was in self-isolation within the house. So I think that was probably a lot to do with, you know, them testing negative the next couple of weeks.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: That's really important because I think that drives the point home that social distancing can help--

COLTON UNDERWOOD: Yep.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: --and to prevent the spread of it, so that's really powerful to hear.

COLTON UNDERWOOD: Yeah.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: And now, do you have any lingering effects, or do you feel like Colton?

COLTON UNDERWOOD: No, I'm back to normal, you know? I feel completely back to myself. I've actually been going on runs in the morning, and it's my lung-- that was what I was scared of the most is maybe not feeling like I had all my lung capacity back. And I'm doing great. I'm doing fine. And I'm just trying to figure out how I can help now, between blood donations and plasma donations and supporting-- I love the fact that you guys are supporting No Kid Hungry. That's one of the charities that caught my eye right away, and I love that you guys are supporting them.

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