Two weeks after diagnosis, Weinstein is free of coronavirus symptoms
Disgraced Hollywood producer and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein, who is currently serving prison term, has no symptoms of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), over two weeks after contracting the deadly illness. He has been released from the 14-day medical isolation. The ex-movie mogul (68) is currently at New York's Wende Correctional Facility, serving a 23-year imprisonment for two sex crime charges. Here's more.
Weinstein was diagnosed with the virus in March
Weinstein was confirmed to have tested positive for the virus on March 22. He was one of the two inmates at the maximum security prison to be diagnosed with it. Giving the update, Weinstein's spokesperson Juda Engelmayer confirmed, "As of now, it has been 14 days since reports of concern from people inside the prison, and he has no symptoms and no issues."
He already suffers from various health complications
A source close to Weinstein said he was surprised that the former producer survived the infection, considering his age and various pre-existing health complications. Weinstein suffers from high blood pressure, heart problems, severe diabetes and a spine condition.
Weinstein may have contracted the virus at Rikers Island jail
It is likely that Weinstein contracted the virus at the notorious Rikers Island prison, where he stayed for some days before being transferred to the Wende Correctional Facility on March 18. Many inmates at Rikers had already tested positive for coronavirus. Following his March sentencing, he also spent time at NYC's Bellevue Hospital, where he underwent treatment for high blood pressure and chest pain.
Weinstein's conviction a landmark event in #MeToo movement
Once one of the most influential movie producers in US, Weinstein was in February convicted of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape. Subsequently, in March, the Oscar-winning former producer was sentenced to 23 years in prison by a New York court, in what marked a landmark event for the #MeToo movement across the globe. Weinstein faces separate sexual assault charges in Los Angeles.
COVID-19 has killed 100,000 across the globe
On a related note, the COVID-19 pandemic has so far claimed the lives of 16,697 in the US and infected 468,895 (the most number of cases for any country). Across the globe, the disease has killed over 100,000 and sickened 1.6 million.
