On Wednesday, Italian Opera singer Andrea Bocelli revealed that he and his family silently fought their battle with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Though he did not specify exactly when they were sick with the virus, he assured that they had a swift and full recovery by the end of March.
“The pandemic which has shaken the world has also affected — albeit mildly — me and certain members of my family,” he said in a social media post.
The global music icon said they chose not to share the news out of respect for those who are dealing with a serious case of the illness.
“Out of respect for those for whom contracting the virus has had more serious consequences, I decided it would be best not to share the news. I certainly didn’t want to unnecessarily alarm my fans and also wished to protect my family’s privacy,” he said.
The 61-year-old said if they were given the chance to donate blood in hopes of finding a cure for COVID-19, his answer would be an immediate “yes.”
“Given the chance to donate blood to help find a cure for COVID, my response was an immediate ‘yes’. A modest — but fundamental gesture, through which I am playing my small part,” he ended.
Early April, on Easter Sunday, Bocelli performed live at the empty Milan Cathedral. His solo performance was said to be a message of love, healing and hope to Italy and the world.
Italy is one of the worst-hit countries of COVID-19. The country once surpassed the death toll of China, where the virus reportedly originated.