George Stephanopoulos Tests Positive for COVID-19 Antibodies After Weeks Without Symptoms

Photo credit: Walter McBride - Getty Images
Photo credit: Walter McBride - Getty Images

From Prevention

  • George Stephanopoulos, 59, said he has been “cleared” of coronavirus.

  • The Good Morning America anchor announced that tested positive for COVID-19 last week, despite having no fever, cough, or chills.

  • His wife, Ali Wentworth, also recovered after being diagnosed with a “real tough” case of COVID-19 in early April.


On Tuesday, George Stephanopoulos shared a health update following his coronavirus diagnosis. Stephanopoulos announced he tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus, on Good Morning America last week.

“Good news for me and my family. Last week I tested positive for COVID antibodies, confirming I cleared the virus after weeks without symptoms,” he tweeted. “I’ve also signed up for a clinical trial to donate my blood plasma and expect to make the donation in the coming weeks.”

An antibody test, also known as a serological test, can help indicate whether a person has already built an immune response to COVID-19. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved some antibody tests in the U.S., though there are still some concerns about the accuracy, availability, and implications of these tests.

Last week, Stephanopoulos and his wife, Ali Wentworth, appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live via video to discuss their experience with coronavirus. Stephanopoulos admitted he was “surprised” when his test came back positive.

He recalled having some lower back pain and losing his sense of smell a few weeks ago. “Since then, just nothing beyond that,” he said of his symptoms. “I actually feel great. I’ve never had a fever, never had cough, never had shortness of breath, never had chills, any of the classic symptoms you’ve been reading about,” he said.

Wentworth, who had a “real tough” case of COVID-19, has also recovered. She shared a video to Instagram of her emerging from quarantine to greet her family, who cheered and blasted Destiny Child’s “Survivor.”

“Came out of 16 days of isolation. I am grateful for my health. It was a brutal and scary time. But I am one of the lucky ones,” she wrote in the caption, encouraging people to “isolate to help others.”

Some fans tweeted that they were glad he was feeling better, while others criticized Stephanopoulos for taking a walk in the Hamptons without a face mask, although it’s unclear how long he has been symptom-free.

Despite Stephanopoulos saying he was “cleared” of his diagnosis, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order on April 15 mandating that New York residents must wear a face mask in public, whether or not they’ve tested positive for COVID-19. However, the order only applies to those people who are unable to maintain a six-feet distance from others in public.

The CDC also recommends wearing cloth masks and coverings in public, as it may help slow the community spread of the virus, especially because there is a significant portion of asymptomatic people who risk transmitting the virus to others without realizing it.


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