Dr. Drew Diagnosed With COVID-19 After Downplaying It In March

Popular TV and radio personality Drew Pinsky, widely known as Dr. Drew, revealed that he has tested positive for coronavirus.

The “Celebrity Rehab” host broke the news on Tuesday via his Instagram account, where he posted a photo resting in bed. The post also confirmed that his wife Susan Sailer Pinsky tested negative.

“Cheers to the New Year with some Hydralyte for Covid-19. Drew tested positive day 4 and @firstladyoflove is negative #2020 #covid19 #youlive,” the post read. The post stated that Pinksy is recovering at home and remains “under surveillance.”

The 62-year-old was the subject of major criticism earlier this year when he downplayed the severity of COVID-19. In March, he referred to the pandemic as “a press-induced panic” and said that the virus was “way less serious than influenza — that should be the headline,” during an interview with KTLA-TV.

Once the severity of COVID-19 encased the world, Pinsky apologized for being dismissive of the virus.

“My early comments about equating coronavirus and influenza were wrong,” he said in a video. “They were incorrect. I was part of a chorus that was saying that, and we were wrong. And I want to apologize for that.”

As of Wednesday, the United States has seen over 330,000 COVID-19 deaths and nearly 20 million positive cases.