Harvey Weinstein Tests Positive For Coronavirus After Being Transferred To NY State Prison

Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for coronavirus.

The convicted producer was hit by COVID-19 while in prison. It was learned just days after he was transferred to the Wende Correctional Facility from NYC’s Rikers Island. Weinstein is already in medical isolation, an Empire State law enforcement official confirmed to Deadline.

“Our team …has not heard anything like that yet,” Weinstein PR chief Juda Engelmayer said on Sunday. “I can’t tell you what I don’t know.”

Meanwhile, PalmerReport noted that Weinstein “has been widely accused of faking or exaggerating various ailments during this trial in an effort to gain sympathy.” However, Bill Palmer thinks that this time he is not faking it because “there’s no way he could fake a coronavirus test result.”

A few weeks back, Weinstein was transferred to Bellevue Hospital due to chest pain. Last week, he got back to Rikers Island after doctors decided that he was okay to travel and his physical state was better.

At the time, Engelmayer was asked if there were chances that Weinstein had coronavirus, he said that it was unlikely because he was hospitalized due to his heart issues. Also, his hospitalization happened days before coronavirus fears swept the Big Apple.

“It’s known that he has a weak heart,” Engelmayer said. “So, right after the sentencing, when he went back to Rikers, he was faint and talking funny, and the staff at Rikers felt it was best to send him back to make sure nothing happened to him. He has heart issues and serious health issues and they wanted to make sure he was okay.”

In the same interview, he was asked if the pandemic would affect Weinstein’s extradition. Engelmayer acknowledged the possibilities that the legal and judicial process would be delayed but not too much. Overall, he felt that the coronavirus outbreak won’t affect it.

“I don’t think coronavirus is going to delay it — just the legal and judicial process will delay it a little bit, but not too much,” he said before adding, “Allegedly, they’ve already started the process. I haven’t heard it officially, but I think there is a little bit of process in place. He has to first be sentenced to a correctional facility and find a permanent home.”