'The View' co-host Sunny Hostin reveals her parents-in-law died of COVID-19 three days apart
The year is getting off to a rough start for Sunny Hostin's family.
"The View" host, 52, revealed on Friday's episode of the ABC daytime talk show that both of her parents-in-law recently died of COVID-19 within three days of each other.
“Although I've chosen a very public career, as most of you know, those of you that know my husband, Manny, know that he is intensely private," said Hostin, who is married to orthopedic surgeon Emmanuel Hostin.
She continued: "But after speaking with him, he felt that from a public health standpoint that it was very important for me to share that we are deeply saddened that Manny lost both of his parents over the holidays."
Fighting back tears, Hostin said Emmanuel "lost his father (Dr. A. Emmanuel) on Dec. 28" at age 83 and "lost his mother (Dr. Maria Jesus) on New Year’s Day" at age 78.
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Hostin said her in-laws "were both physicians and they were both very careful" with preventive measures to avoid contracting the virus. Their family even opted to skip Thanksgiving "because we all decided that it wasn’t safe."
"After a lot of contact tracing, we still don’t know how they contracted this virus and this disease," she said, adding that they were able to "FaceTime with Manny's parents while they were passing away."
Hostin went on to thank "the doctors and nurses that gave (her in-laws) such incredible care," adding first responders are "doing God's work." She also extended gratitude to her supportive family at "The View" and ABC.
"Whoopi (Goldberg), for sending so much food for several weeks," said Hostin. "Ana (Navarro) for calling us and giving us all of the information that you gained when Al was battling this virus. Meghan (McCain) for distracting me with all of the pop culture news and sending us bourbon. Manny says the best condolence gift he's gotten so far. Joy (Behar) for your calls with your humor."
She continued: "You guys really wrapped your love around us and we're so very thankful."
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Hostin said the virus is "not a joke" or "hoax" and urged everyone to take COVID-19 seriously.
"COVID is devastating and while my kids and Manny's siblings, Helen and Carlos, we are in deep grief, we want everybody to know that you may think you're healthy and that you won't be impacted, but you could be an asymptomatic carrier, you could put someone you love at risk," she said. "So please, I beg of you, social distance, wear your mask, wash your hands. And if you get the opportunity to take this vaccine, take it."
Hostin said she plans to take the coronavirus vaccine, adding that her husband has already been administered his first dose.
As of Friday, there are at least 21,800,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. since the start of the pandemic. At least 367,000 have died, according to USA TODAY's coronavirus map.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The View' host Sunny Hostin says her in-laws have died of COVID-19