Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson announced on Wednesday (Sept. 2) that he and his immediate family tested positive for COVID-19. In a video posted to Instagram, the WWE legend revealed that he, his wife and their two daughters had been suffering from the virus for the past two to three weeks.
“I can tell you this has been one of the most challenging and difficult things we have ever had to endure as a family,” Johnson said in the clip. “And for me, personally, too, as well. I’ve gone through some doozies in the past. I’ve gotten knocked about and gotten my ass kicked a little bit in the past with some challenges. But testing positive for COVID-19 is much different than overcoming nasty injuries or being evicted or even being broke, which I have been more than a few times.”
Johnson explained that thankfully his young daughters had only suffered minor symptoms, while he and his wife’s experience had been “a rough go.” However, the family of four is now recovering from the disease.
“We as a family are good,” he said. “We are on the other end of it. We’re on the other side. We are no longer contagious. And we are — thank God — we are healthy. We’ve gotten through COVID-19 stronger and healthier. Believe me, I am counting my blessings.”
Johnson told his followers that he would host a virtual Q&A session later on about his experience with the virus. He said that although his family has been self-isolating since March, they contracted COVID-19 from close family friends. The Hollywood star stressed the importance of requiring extended family and friends to get tested for the virus before inviting them over, which he said he’ll be doing from now on.
Johnson also urged his followers to wear masks and get tested themselves if they’re experiencing symptoms or could have been exposed to Coronavirus.
“I don’t care what political party you’re affiliated with, I don’t care what part of the world you’re from, I don’t care what your skin color is, what your job is, what your bank account says — I don’t care,” he continued. “I care about all of you and I don’t want you — or your entire family — to get COVID-19.”
“I do believe in hope, I do believe in optimism. I do believe in our doctors, our epidemiologists, our scientists who are all working so hard to deliver the vaccines for us. And that’s gonna happen,” he added. “But that’s then. This is now. What we can do now is we can control the controllables.”
Watch Johnson’s video below.