Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson East and her husband, former NFL player Andrew East, announced Johnson is pregnant with their second child about two weeks ago—and she just tested positive for COVID-19.
“Got my results back today and they came back positive for Covid. Not going to lie… I’m nervous knowing I’m positive. It’s been a long two weeks of [respiratory syncytial virus] with Drew and now this … my body is exhausted,” Johnson East wrote in an Instagram story post, per CNN. She said she’s experiencing a few symptoms, including a sore throat, cough, headache, and fatigue.
She said she’s nervous specifically because “1: I don’t want my family to get sick. 2: I have asthma and have had it my entire life so this scares me a little extra. 3: had a very close family member fight for his life last month while battling Covid so it’s a serious topic of concern/hits home in our household.”
It’s understandable that Johnson East would be a little extra concerned. As a chronic lung condition, asthma does increase the risk for severe symptoms of COVID-19—as does being pregnant. Recent research has shown that people who are pregnant are more likely to have severe complications of COVID-19 than people who aren’t pregnant, especially if their infections come with actual symptoms. Having a coronavirus infection is also associated with pregnancy and delivery complications, including preterm birth.
Of course, testing positive for COVID-19 while pregnant is not a guarantee that someone will experience severe complications, but the infection does make those issues more likely, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explain. The CDC doesn’t give specific advice for people who are pregnant and have COVID-19, but it does recommend getting in touch with your doctor if you think you might have the infection.
The fact that some people—including pregnant people—are at risk for severe coronavirus complications is one reason why it’s so important to do everything we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by wearing face masks, washing our hands frequently, avoiding crowds and unnecessary gatherings, and staying socially distanced. It’s also crucial to get a COVID-19 vaccine when possible and for pregnant people to have a thorough discussion with their health care provider about potentially getting the vaccine. Pregnant people should also not delay their normal care during the pandemic, the CDC says.
“Just a reminder to take care of yourself,” Johnson East wrote. “Drink an extra water tonight and wash your hands.”
Related:
- Shawn Johnson and Husband Andrew East Share Emotional Video About Miscarriage
- Can Pregnant People Get a COVID-19 Vaccine?
- New CDC Data Sheds Light on the COVID-19 Risks Pregnant People Face