When it comes to COVID-19, not even celebrities are immune to the anxieties and tensions it brings, especially in households with differing comfort levels regarding the virus. Howard Stern, the renowned radio host, recently opened up about his fears surrounding the pandemic and how it led to a disagreement with his wife.
Paranoia, Age, and a Viral Strain: The Ingredients for a Celebrity Quarrel
“I’m going crazy with this,” began Stern during a recent episode of SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show. Addressing a caller’s query about the risk of returning to the studio amidst the late summer surge, Stern vividly expressed his heightened concern for the virus. “You know how paranoid I am about getting Covid. I haven’t gotten it, and I’m pretty safe, and I really don’t want to get it.”
The self-proclaimed neurotic radio host touched on the varying comfort levels within his own household. Stern, 69, is older than his wife, Beth Ostrosky, 51. This age difference, he believes, contributes to their contrasting outlooks. “She’s not as concerned about getting Covid as I am because, you know, I’m an older dude,” he shared.
From Social Outings to COVID Conversations
Despite Stern’s reservations, the couple has been enjoying outings together, including dining out and attending the Ed Sheeran concert. “We’ve really been out there. I haven’t gotten Covid. And I’m like, you know what? If I get it, I get it,” Stern stated.
However, the revelation of a new COVID strain dramatically shifted Stern’s perspective. The idea of once again retreating into lockdown didn’t sit well with the radio host. Expressing his concerns to Ostrosky about possibly contracting the virus due to her increased public interactions ignited the spark for their disagreement. “Every time I say I’m going to do something, you bring up Covid,” she argued, to which Stern responded, “I’m just expressing my fear to you, and I’m scared.”
Facing a Familiar Foe
The current upsurge in coronavirus cases and its consequences are undeniable. With hospitalizations and death rates rising since July, concerns remain high. Yet, in comparison to Summer 2022 and 2021, these numbers are relatively low. While new vaccine boosters are on the horizon, experts, as reported by The New York Times, remain cautiously optimistic.
Although Stern didn’t specify which strain he was referencing, the Omricron subvariant EG.5, nicknamed Eris, has been the dominant strain fueling the summer wave in the US.
Summing it Up
Stern’s candid revelation is a potent reminder that anxiety surrounding COVID-19 transcends status. It’s not just about personal health but also the challenges in navigating a world and relationships amidst ever-evolving information on the pandemic. As the former America’s Got Talent judge confessed about his intrinsic worry, his co-host Robin Quivers humorously summarized: “Yes, a person with no real problems, but who makes them up,” eliciting Stern’s agreement: “Yeah. I make a ton of problems.”
Source: Toofab
