Harvard President Larry Bacow and his wife, Adele, have tested positive for COVID-19, he announced early Tuesday afternoon.

In a letter to the university community, Bacow wrote that he and his wife began having symptoms on Sunday, including a cough, then fevers with chills and muscle aches. On Monday, they contacted their doctors and were tested for the virus. They received confirmation of the positive results on Tuesday.

The couple will remain at home for two weeks in isolation while they recover, Bacow wrote.

Bacow is Harvard’s 29th president. Prior to his time at Harvard, he was president of Tufts University from 2001 to 2011, according to his biography on Harvard’s website.


“This virus can lay anyone low,” Bacow said. “We all need to be vigilant and keep following guidelines to limit our contact with others.”

Read the full letter below: