Rita Wilson reveals she still has COVID-19 antibodies nearly nine months after beating the virus

Rita Wilson and her husband Tom Hanks were among the first high-profile celebrities to publicly announce they tested positive for the novel coronavirus in March. 

And nearly nine month after recovering from COVID-19, the 64-year-old actress revealed she still has antibodies for the virus, which help prevent her from getting infected again. 

During a socially distanced in-person interview with Jimmy Kimmel on Tuesday, the star gave an update on her health and choice to donate blood to an antibodies study.

Health journey: Rita Wilson and her husband Tom Hanks were among the first high-profile celebrities to publicly reveal they tested positive for the novel coronavirus in March; seen on Tuesday

As she arrived on the set of the late-night talk show, she and Kimmel exchanged an elbow bump.  

‘I feel like you’re the only person I don’t have to worry about because you must be brimming with antibodies right now,’ the 53-year-old comedian joked. 

Wilson, who is tested every few months as part of a program with UCLA, replied, ‘I still have antibodies!’ 

Doing well: Nine months after beating COVID-19, the 64-year-old actress revealed she still has antibodies for the virus, which help provide protection from getting infected with the virus again; seen in January 

‘They test us and so far we still have them,’ she said. ‘They diminish as you get farther away from your infection, but they’re still there helping us out.’ 

In April, the star opened up about feeling ‘completely nauseous’, suffering from achy muscles, vertigo, and not being able to walk after taking chloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment.

The opera singer contracted the virus at the same time as her husband, while they were working in Australia. 

Feeling safe: As she arrived on the late-night talk show’s stage, she and Kimmel exchanged an elbow bump

‘I feel like you’re the only person I don’t have to worry about because you must be brimming with antibodies right now,’ the 53-year-old comedian joked

Her other symptoms included losing her sense of taste and smell, as well as not wanting ‘to be touched.’ 

During an interview with CBS This Morning at the time, Wilson said the side effects of chloroquine phosphate – an anti-malarial medication – caused her to feel much worse.

‘They gave me chloroquine,’ she said about suffering from fever of 102. ‘I know people have been talking about this drug. I can only tell you that I don’t know if the drug worked or it was just time for the fever to break.’  

Recovered: Wilson also said even though the couple contracted the illness at the same time – from someone they have not been able to identify – Hanks, also 64, had milder symptoms

Wilson noted: ‘My fever did break but the chloroquine had such extreme side effects. I was completely nauseous and I had vertigo. I could not walk. My muscles felt very weak. I think people have to be very considerate of that drug. We don’t know if it’s helpful.’  

The songwriter also said even though the couple contracted the illness at the same time – from someone they have not been able to identify – Hanks, also 64, had milder symptoms. 

‘He didn’t have as high a fever, he didn’t lose his sense of taste or smell but still took us the same time to get through it,’ Wilson told CBS host Gayle King of Hanks.

‘He didn’t have as high a fever, he didn’t lose his sense of taste or smell but still took us the same time to get through it,’ Wilson told CBS host Gayle King of Hanks