CHICAGO — Legendary civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline, are hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19, the Rainbow/PUSH coalition said.
Jesse, 79, and Jacqueline Jackson, 77, are being treated at Northwestern Hospital. Jesse Jackson, who is also battling Parkinson’s Disease, was hospitalized in January for intestinal issues and underwent gallbladder surgery.
The couple are “resting comfortably and are responding positively to treatments” for COVID-19, their son, Jonathan Jackson, told The Associated Press in a statement. Doctors are “carefully monitoring their condition” due to their ages: Jesse Jackson is 79 and Jacqueline is 77, according to The AP.
“My family appreciates all of the expressions of concern and prayers that have been offered on their behalf, and we will continue to offer our prayers for your family as well,” Jonathan Jackson said in the statement.
Jackson has been active this year advocating for people to get vaccinated to protect themselves against coronavirus. He got his first Pfizer vaccine dose in January during a public event to encourage vaccination.
He appeared Aug. 13 at an interfaith prayer event outside Chicago Police Headquarters in the wake of the slaying of officer Ella French, speaking to the crowd assembled.
His Chicago-based Rainbow/PUSH Coalition issued a statement saying “doctors are currently monitoring the condition” of the couple.
“Anyone who has been around either of them for the last five or six days should follow the CDC guidelines,” according to the statement.
Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
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