Greta Thunberg 'Likely' Had Coronavirus - Read Her Stern Warning To Young People!

Oh no! Noted climate change activist Greta Thunberg is the latest celebrity to contract the novel coronavirus — or at least she thinks so.

Although the Swedish 17-year-old has not officially been tested, she took to Instagram on Tuesday and revealed she and her father, actor Svante Thunberg, have been in self-isolation at home for the last few weeks after coming down with symptoms of COVID-19.

In her post, Greta explained she’s thankfully on the mend — however, she and her dad started feeling ill when they returned home to Sweden from a trip through Central Europe together recently:

“The last two weeks I’ve stayed inside. When I returned from my trip around Central Europe I isolated myself (in a borrowed apartment away from my mother and sister) since the number of cases of COVID-19 (in Germany for instance) were similar to Italy in the beginning. Around ten days ago I started feeling some symptoms, exactly the same time as my father – who traveled with me from Brussels. I was feeling tired, had shivers, a sore throat and coughed. My dad experienced the same symptoms, but much more intense and with a fever.”

Despite being symptomatic with chills, a sore throat, and a cough, Thunberg said the two were unable to get tested:

“In Sweden you can not test yourself for COVID-19 unless you’re in need of emergent medical treatment. Everyone feeling ill are told to stay at home and isolate themselves. I have therefore not been tested for COVID-19, but it’s extremely likely that I’ve had it, given the combined symptoms and circumstances.”

It’s not unlike what we’ve heard in the US about the enormous pressure put on the healthcare industry and lack of testing kits available to the general public right now. Although, the rich and powerful — even the most disgraced among them — continue to have access to these coveted resources amid the global pandemic.

Thunberg continued and switched gears, delivering a much-needed PSA to the young people who aren’t taking the current public health crisis as seriously as they should be:

“Now I’ve basically recovered, but – AND THIS IS THE BOTTOM LINE: I almost didn’t feel ill. My last cold was much worse than this! Had it not been for someone else having the virus simultainously I might not even have suspected anything. Then I would just have thought I was feeling unusually tired with a bit of a cough. And this it what makes it so much more dangerous. Many (especially young people) might not notice any symptoms at all, or very mild symptoms. Then they don’t know they have the virus and can pass it on to people in risk groups.

She finished:

“We who don’t belong to a risk group have an enormous responsibility, our actions can be the difference between life and death for many others. Please keep that in mind, follow the advice from experts and your local authorities and #StayAtHome to slow the spread of the virus. And remember to always take care of each other and help those in need. #COVID #flattenthecurve”

Wow. A powerful message from one of the strongest voices of her generation!

We’re so glad to hear Greta’s doing better now and here’s to her dad’s speedy and full recovery, too. Hopefully, this message can get through to those still who really need to hear it!

[Image via Oscar Gonzalez/WENN]