Chris Cuomo's Wife Cristina Gives an Update on Her COVID-19 Diagnosis in Emotional Instagram

From Good Housekeeping

• Cristina Cuomo has tested positive for COVID-19 after caring for her sick husband, Chris, for more than 18 days.

• She has already experienced some of the symptoms associated with the disease, including a loss of taste and smell, as well as respiratory symptoms that reminded her of a sinus infection.

• CNN viewers and families across the country are sharing their support for the couple as their family is largely impacted during this time.

UPDATE 4/17: Cristina Cuomo has opened up about her own experience with COVID-19 on Thursday, after husband and CNN journalist Chris Cuomo revealed she had tested positive during a television interview earlier in the week. The 50-year-old mother of three has shared that her first symptom was a "seemingly sinus-related infection" in an Instagram post. Plus, she lost her ability to taste and smell right before testing positive for the novel coronavirus, according to her husband. But the toughest obstacle for Cristina to overcome now, she says, is the fact that she can't provide care for Chris and her three children while in quarantine.

"You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice," she wrote in an Instagram caption, in a nod to a comforting quote by Bob Marley. "But the only frustrating part is I can’t be there for my kids right now in the way they need me as Chris is in isolation too still, no fever, and feeling better."

Cristina shared that her oldest daughter, 17-year-old Bella, has stepped forward to support her siblings and her parents as best she can right now. In an outpouring of support on Cristina's behalf this week, many CNN viewers shared their families are similarly navigating these uncharted challenges, where children may have parents or caregivers that must be sequestered from the rest of the household. Cristina says her own children "have grown up overnight."

"Bella, our 17-year-old daughter, stepped up cleaning, doing laundry, cooking for her siblings and getting them situated with google classroom, and caregiving her mother and father. Mario, her assistant," Cristina shared. "So much gratitude for them. I can’t wait to wrap my arms around them again. ♥️ ♥️♥️"

Chris is closer to a full recovery than Cristina as he's more than two weeks into recovery, the pair have both been focusing on natural ways to boost the immune system — and both have been relying on emotional support as they fight COVID-19.

"Pooling anecdotal evidence and sharing methods for recovery are important. Why? Communication is all we’ve got right now," Cristina wrote. "Please keep sharing your stories. It’s the only way we achieve freedom from fear. Staying strong is the battle."

ORIGINAL 4/16: After taking care of husband Chris while he isolated himself in their home's basement, Cristina Cuomo has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, and she has also already experienced some of the debilitating symptoms associated with the contagious illness. Chris revealed the update on his 50-year-old wife during CNN's Cuomo Prime Time on Wednesday while interviewing his own brother, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

“Cristina now has COVID. She is now positive, and it just breaks my heart,” Chris said. “It is the one thing I was hoping wouldn’t happen and now it has.” He also revealed that she's lost her sense of smell and taste, and postulated that it may actually be a good sign: "Anecdotally, the cases I hear that are more mild tend to have that.”

While Cristina herself recently shared an update on Chris' condition via Instagram, describing how the 49-year-old CNN journalist has been fighting to stay active while broadcasting from his home, Chris said she is not "upset" about contracting COVID-19, adding that she normally "takes everything in stride." But he also touched upon a concerning trend that's unfolding during the coronavirus pandemic worldwide — families living in close proximity can easily fall victim to COVID-19, despite trying their best to keep each other safe. Chris and Cristina share three children: Bella, 17, Mario, 14, and Carolina, 11.

"Families all over know the reality our family faces: few are one case and done. Sure enough, Cristina has COVID now," Chris shared via Twitter. "Kids are still healthy but this shook us at our literal core. All are stepping up. Can’t wait to shake this fever so I can help her as she helped me."

Many viewers resonated with that reality — as more than 640,000 people in the United States have currently tested positive for COVID-19, there have been many stories of how families have been severely impacted by the pandemic. People have been sharing words of comfort for Chris and Cristina via Twitter, as well as opening up about their own reality: "My husband and I both have it as does all 4 of our kids," one person shared.

While Cristina has yet to share details about her own COVID-19 struggle, one viewer guessed that Cristina's experience in taking care of Chris might drive her to get better soon — just as Chris' honesty and openness has inspired millions of viewers elsewhere.

"I am so sorry your family is experiencing this. She will be ok," one Twitter user wrote. "You showed her how. I don't know either of you, but I imagine she is fighter like you. God speed."

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