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Blues legend Bobby Rush suffering from COVID-19 symptoms

Rush tells Local 24 News tests came back inconclusive, so he self-quarantined

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Blues Legend Bobby Rush is self-quarantined at home with coronavirus symptoms. Local 24 News Weeknight Anchor Katina Rankin spoke with the Grammy Award Winning Musician about what he's been experiencing.

Bobby Rush has been singing the blues for more than half a century now. But recently, he's been a bit clue and had quite the scare.

"I been really under the weather for about six weeks, I suppose. Six weeks roughly, but I been in and out of the hospital a couple of times," said blues singer Bobby Rush.

Rush believes he's been fighting coronavirus.

"I had everything that I thought I had the COVID, and I had all the symptoms of having the corona," said Rush.

Everything from a cough to dizziness and a fever.

"My fever got so high after I did a live broadcast on YouTube and Facebook, and that same day an hour or two later I got so sick I couldn't hardly stand up. And my son and grandson took me to the emergency room," said Rush.

Rush says he had a few COVID-19 tests performed, but they came back inconclusive. So he self-quarantined himself and says he will remain in isolation until April 20th.

The Grammy-Award winning blues legend offers this advice to people watching.

"Quarantine yourself from everyone and wear a mask, so you can protect the people you love. I want the fans to know I'm doing one hundred (100%) percent better than I was. And I just feel like whatever I had, I done beat it through God. With God’s help I done beat the virus."

Credit: AP
Jan. 4, 2018 photo: Bobby Rush performs at the opening night, a benefit for PCaBlue in Chicago. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

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Coronavirus in Context: 

The symptoms of coronavirus are similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include a fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Most healthy people will have mild symptoms. A study of more than 72,000 patients by the Centers for Disease Control in China showed 80-percent of the cases there were mild.

But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk.

The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.

Lower your risk

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. 
  • If you are 60 or over and have an underlying health condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or respiratory illnesses like asthma or COPD, the World Health Organization advises you to try to avoid crowds or places where you might interact with people who are sick.

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