New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced at a press conference Tuesday that his brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, had tested positive for COVID-19, the Washington Examiner reported.
“My brother Chris is positive for coronavirus, found out this morning,” the New York governor told reporters, according to the Examiner. “Now, he is going to be fine. He’s young, in good shape, strong — not as strong as he thinks — but he will be fine.”
Gov. Cuomo went on to say that his brother is a “sweet person” outside of his “combative” job at CNN. “He’s my best friend,” the governor said, according to the Examiner.
“And now he’s quarantined in the basement, but he’s funny as heck. He says to me, ‘Even the dogs won’t come downstairs,’” the governor added. “But he’s concerned about his wife and his kids.”
“The great equalizer”
Gov. Cuomo said Tuesday that his brother is experiencing fever and chills, but said he is doing “fine.” According to CBS News, the New York leader compared his brother’s symptoms to a “bad flu.”
In a statement, Chris Cuomo said he will continue broadcasts of Cuomo Prime Time on CNN from his home while he’s under quarantine, the Examiner reported.
Both Cuomo brothers referred to the virus as “the great equalizer” Tuesday, according to the Examiner. Still, Chris Cuomo insisted that he is upset with himself for not being more careful.
“I am not the story,” he said, according to the Examiner. “There are people who are in rough shape because of this.” The CNN anchor added that he appreciates the well wishes, but said, “Do not waste sympathy on me.”
“No one can be protected”
Chris Cuomo also said Tuesday that his brother is beating him “over the head a little bit” over his diagnosis.
“No one can be protected from it,” the Democrat governor said at a press briefing in Albany the next day, according to the New York Post. “I couldn’t protect my own brother.”
“With all he knows and as smart as he is, he couldn’t protect himself. So anyone can get it, and everyone has to be protected,” Gov. Cuomo added Wednesday, according to the Post.
New York state is under a stay-at-home order until April 15 to slow down the spread of the virus, Newsweek reports. As of Wednesday, the Empire State had over 83,000 cases of COVID-19 and nearly 2,000 deaths from the disease, according to The New York Times.
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