Idris Elba reckons we should quarantine for a week every year to ‘remember’ coronavirus

Idris Elba believes the world should go into quarantine for a week every year to ‘remember’ the coronavirus pandemic.


 The Luther actor has recently recovered from Covid-19 after testing positive for the disease in March alongside his wife Sabrina Ela. Now they’re past the worst of it, Idris, 47, has described the ordeal as ‘definitely scary and unsettling and nervous’.

 He also believes pandemic should be recognised every year once we’ve overcome the global health crisis.

Speaking to the Associated Press, the British actor said: ‘You know, everyone’s sort of feeling the way we have been feeling, but it has definitely been sort of just a complete upheaval.


‘I think that the world should take a week of quarantine every year just to remember this time. Remember each other. I really do.’ He added: ‘I think it’s… other species use it. It’s called hibernation. But it does remind you that the world doesn’t tick on your time.’

Idris and Sabrina are currently self-isolating in New Mexico where the actor was filming a project as the US and UK went into lockdown.

It meant he was forced to miss his son Winston’s sixth birthday but hopes to be able to catch a flight back to London soon. ‘We’ve been fortunate. We have been staying in a lovely place that’s been very comfortable for the time. But we’re looking forward to going home,’ he said.

The couple, who married last year, experienced ‘mild’ symptoms of coronavirus. They’ve now been appointed UN Goodwill Ambassadors to help lessen the impact of Covid-19 on farmers and food producers in rural areas.