"'The virus is afraid of Betty!"
Fans around the world have rejoiced with the news that Golden Girl legend Betty White is safe and well amid the coronavirus pandemic.
White, 98, is self-isolating in her home in California, with visits from animal friends, including ducks.
"No one permitted in except those who must. Has helpers who are great with her," White's rep said in an email to Today.
"The animal community is watching over her," White's publicist said, adding, "The virus is afraid of Betty!"
Her friend Tom Sullivan confirmed to Closer that she is also keeping her mind active during the lockdown.
“She reads the L.A. Times cover to cover,” he said.
“She owns literally thousands of crossword puzzle books and is constantly doing them to keep her mind jumping. This is really serious with her.”
As well as keeping her mind active, White has been relaxing with a cocktail or two.
“Betty loves to joke that vodka keeps her young,” her friend says with a laugh.
“She loves the image of her sitting at home in a rocking chair, drinking a martini and watching game shows, but she’s not really a big drinker. That’s not her. She’ll only take a few sips of a cocktail if the occasion calls for it.”
White also has a message to the world.
“Betty’s message to the world is to slow down and enjoy what you have: family, friends, your pets,” says the friend.
“She says that the pandemic is serious, but we have come through worse. It’s Mother Nature’s way of telling us all to slow down.”
White has spent 80 years working in television and has the longest career in the history of television.