Days after his daughter tested positive for the virus, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, said that he has also tested positive for COVID-19.
Murthy said on Twitter, “Update: my 5 year old son, my wife Alice, and I have all tested positive for COVID-19. Our son has a runny nose and low grade fever but is otherwise eating, drinking, playing with his sister, and watching his favorite cartoons.”
Murthy added on Twitter Friday, “We’ve tried to be safe but it’s tough when your kids are sick. You want to comfort them when they’re unwell. That often requires being close physically. We’d make that choice again, but I feel for those who struggle to balance protecting themselves with caring for family.”
Murthy had said Tuesday that his 4-year-old daughter had tested positive for COVID-19, as we reported.
Murthy, his wife, and his son were vaccinated and received boosters, he said in a tweet. Murthy has been a public supporter of vaccines.
Murthy offered words of encouragement on Twitter for others who have taken precautions but gotten sick anyway, saying, “So if you’ve done everything you can and gotten COVID-19 anyway, don’t beat yourself up. A lot of us are doing the best we can. And let’s not assume those who get sick are careless. We don’t know people’s circumstances. They may not be able to protect themselves the way we can.”
The White House told The Washington Post there has been no recent contact between Murthy and President Biden.
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