Covid-19 is still with us and a hindrance in the world.
Denzel Washington was forced to pull out of a White House ceremony in which he was due to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom after contracting the virus, according to reports..
The Oscar-winning actor and director was part of a list of 17 recipients receiving the accolade, which is the highest civilian honour that can be bestowed in the US.
President Joe Biden handed out the medals at the event on Thursday, but said he would be giving Washington’s to him “at a later date”.
“There’s a man who couldn’t be here today but wanted to be: Denzel Washington, one of our greatest actors in American history,” Biden said, acknowledging the Hollywood star as a recipient of “academy Awards, Golden Globes, Tony Awards (and) wide acclaim from audiences and peers around the world”.
“He couldn’t be here with us today, but I’ll be giving him this award at a later date when he’s able to get here.”
A spokesperson for Washington said that despite the positive test, the actor “feels fine”.
