Hoda Kotbhas tested positive for a breakthrough case ofCOVID-19.
OnTodayThursday,Craig Melvinrevealed that his 57-year-old co-anchor was off after contracting the virus. The networkreportedthat Kotb is feeling well and isolating at home, telling her fellow anchors she looks forward to returning to work soon.
Kotb has received the COVID vaccine and a booster shot. After the announcement, she thanked fans for sharing kind words of support.
“Thx for well wishes! Feeling good.. ❤️ cant wait to see you all when I am in the clear! Xo,” the mom of twotweeted.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Before she got herfirst shotlast year, Kotb spoke with PEOPLE about why she would jump at the opportunity to get inoculated once eligible.
For more onHoda Kotb, listen below toour daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day.
“So I am getting vaccinated not only for my family, but for yours too,” she told PEOPLE.
Kotb’s positive test comes amid the surge of COVID-19 cases sweeping the nation, due in part to the highly contagiousOmicron variant. According to theNew York TimesCOVID data tracker, the United States recorded over 585,000 new cases of the virus on Jan. 5.
Lloyd Bishop/NBC
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the Omicron variant is currently themost dominantstrain of the coronavirus in the U.S. Health officials have urged Americans to immediately get their booster shots as cases spike again.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said last month thata booster shot will protect against infection from omicron, and that Pfizer and Moderna do not need to formulate an omicron-specific booster shot.
“Our booster vaccine regimens work against omicron,” Fauci said, according toThe New York Times. “At this point, there is no need for a very specific booster. And so the message remains clear: If you are unvaccinated get vaccinated, and particularly in the arena of omicron if you are fully vaccinated, get your booster shot.”
As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
source: people.com
