Anna Wintour reveals her doctor son Charlie has coronavirus after helping to fight the illness on the frontlines in a New York ICU - but says he plans to return to work as soon as he is able

Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour's doctor son Charlie has contracted coronavirus after working to fight the spread of the deadly illness in a New York ICU. 

The 70-year-old fashion legend shared the news in a video posted on the Vogue Instagram account on Monday evening, revealing that the 35-year-old father-of-two is 'quite ill' and currently quarantining at home. 

'My son is a doctor. He is currently quite ill and self quarantining at home,' she shared. 'But when he is able, he will return to the ICU at his hospital.

Speaking out: Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, 70, has revealed that her doctor son, Charlie Shaffer, has coronavirus, after treating COVID-19 patients in a New York City ICU

Brave: Charlie, 35, who has two children with his wife Lizzy, is a Chief Resident at Weill Cornell, but is currently self-quarantining at home

'I am so proud of him and so grateful to all the health workers, first responders, nurses and doctors who are fighting to reduce the spread of the virus and to save lives.'

Charles, who has two daughters with his wife Lizzy, is a Chief Resident at Weill Cornell in New York City, the US epicenter for the spread of the virus.   

There are currently more than 68,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York City, and more than 2,700 people have died from the illness. The total number of cases in the state had reached more than 131,000 as of Monday evening.

Wintour shared the news about her son's illness shortly after urging everyone at home to follow CDC guidelines and wear masks whenever they are outside, describing it as one of the 'most important steps' people can take to 'slow the spread of this virus'.

In a piece written for Vogue.com, Wintour shared an image of herself wearing a face mask, along with her signature sunglasses, while encouraging others to follow in her footsteps by covering their mouth and nose. 

'I hope that you’ve discovered what it feels like to wear a face mask when you go out,' she wrote. 'As we are learning from health officials, this is one of the most important steps we can take to slow the spread of this virus. 

'If you don’t have a mask, a simple fabric covering will do. Please follow this new guideline; it couldn’t be more important.'

In her social media video, Wintour noted that the 'challenges we face are profound', but insisted that society can overcome the virus and its devastating impact by taking small steps to help those affected - both through social distancing and through charitable efforts. 

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Sending a message: On Monday, Wintour shared a piece for Vogue.com in which she urged everyone to wear masks whenever they go outside  

Family ties: Charlie's eldest daughter, Caroline, celebrated her third birthday in quarantine on March 27, with Wintour revealing the family threw a party for her on Zoom 

The clip was posted in order to raise awareness about A Common Thread, a fund started in collaboration between Vogue and the CFDA, which aims to offer financial support to Americans working in the fashion industry. 

Wintour did not share any other information about her son's symptoms, and did not reveal when he first fell ill. 

However, in her written piece for Vogue, Wintour did offer a glimpse into Charlie's daughter's third birthday celebrations, which took place on March 28, revealing that the family marked Caroline's special day with a digital party on Zoom.   

The Vogue editrix is currently staying at her home on Long Island, where she has been throughout much of March, after New Yorkers were urged to shelter in place and work from home amid the coronavirus pandemic.  

But that didn't stop her from celebrating her first grandchild, whom she named as one of the things she has been most grateful for while in quarantine. 

While penning a piece for Vogue.com about the things she is most grateful for while in quarantine, she celebrated three-year-old Caroline, who is her son Charlie Shaffer's first child with his wife Lizzy. 

'What else am I grateful for? My granddaughter, who celebrated her third birthday through a virtual party the other day,' she wrote, while sharing an adorable photo of the youngster enjoying her birthday cake. 

'A lot of people Zoomed in and it was just a joy seeing how happy that made her.'

Wintour, who also shared a chic photo of herself modeling a face mask along with her signature dark sunglasses, urged other people to follow in her footsteps and cover their faces when they go out in public, saying: 'I hope that you’ve discovered what it feels like to wear a face mask when you go out.

'As we are learning from health officials, this is one of the most important steps we can take to slow the spread of this virus. If you don’t have a mask, a simple fabric covering will do. Please follow this new guideline; it couldn’t be more important.' 

Like so many people, Wintour has been self isolating at home for a few weeks, and she opened up about how this has changed her perspective on so many things - particularly 'the simple pleasures' that she used to take for granted. 

'I think of the simple pleasures we once took for granted—like going to the theater, dinner with friends, coming into the office—and they seem to me like impossible luxuries,' she said. 

 But, Wintour noted, her experience over the past few weeks has made her all the more grateful for so many things in her life - in addition to her beloved granddaughter - a handful of which she named.  

First, the fashion icon praised those designers who have dedicated themselves to supporting healthcare workers and people in need, calling particular attention to A Common Thread, a fund started in collaboration between Vogue and the CFDA, which aims to look after American designers. 

Wintour also spoke out to praise New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, applauding his hard work over the past month, while thanking him for being so 'incredibly reassuring'. 

'I’m not the first one to say this, but I’m grateful for New York’s governor,' she wrote. 'Governor Cuomo goes in front of cameras every day and simply levels with us about the crisis we’re in. 

'He tells us the truth without sugar coating it—a feat our president cannot bring himself to do. How incredibly reassuring that is. How lucky we are to have him.'

One of her personal pleasures while in quarantine has been artist David Hockney, who has been producing new pieces using his iPad, which he then shares with the world via social media. 

As a well-known lover of art, Wintour admitted she has been finding hope in his work, particularly a rendering of daffodils that he did recently.   

'I am grateful for daffodils!' she said, adding: 'David Hockney’s in particular. The 82-year-old artist, whose work I have always loved, has been producing new paintings on his iPad and they couldn’t be more glorious. 

'His daffodils are extraordinary—a vision of color, optimism and hope—a reminder that these days of isolation won’t last forever and that new ideas are growing all the while.'

Wintour also took the opportunity to pay tribute to her team at Vogue, thanking them for 'rising to the occasion' and continuing to 'produced stories that I’m so proud of' - while revealing that they have been working on a new issue that will seemingly be released on schedule.   

The latest essay from Wintour comes just a few weeks after she shared a first glimpse into her life in quarantine, when she shared a photo of herself lounging inside her Hamptons home while wearing those signature shades.   

'Like so many of you, I have been adjusting to reality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Above all else, I have been doing one simple thing, and I urge everyone to do the same: I have been staying at home,' she wrote.

She continued: 'There is no more important rule for all of us to follow. We must, right this moment, pledge to stay in our homes as much as we possibly can. 

'There are, of course, health workers, emergency-response personnel, grocery store employees and others whose essential jobs we depend on. And they must go out to perform these life-saving tasks. 

'For the rest of us, there is no debate or discussion. We must stay in our homes. That is the only way to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and to protect those who are most vulnerable to it. ⁣⁣

'So join me in a pledge that all of us at @voguemagazine are making today: #stayhome. There is no more valuable action you can take. We encourage you to share your own promise and comment below with a [rose emoji] to pledge to #stayhome too.⁣⁣'

⁣Alongside the message, she included a rare smiling photo of herself in a chunky ivory sweater, black scarf, and dark shades inside her home. 

While the editor owns a place in Manhattan, she appears to have dashed off to her bigger home in Mastic, Long Island.

According to Cafe Design, the house was built in 1820 and decorated by Carrier & Company. 

She reportedly paid just $350,000 for the 5.9 acre property with four bedrooms and waterfront access back in 2013. 

Last month, one of Wintour's biggest projects — the Met Gala — was cancelled due to the coronavirus. 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where the glitzy event is held every year, made the call after being closed by New York City.

This is the first time that the event — for which tickets can cost up to $35,000 per person — has been called off in the 22 years that Vogue editor-in-chief Wintour has chaired it, a job that she took on back in 1995 when she made her debut as the hostess of the star-studded party.  

According to Vogue.com, an email sent out to staff members on Monday afternoon stated that any and all 'programs and events' due to be held by or at the Met through May 15 had been 'canceled or postponed,' 'in deference' to CDC guidance that all gatherings of more than 50 people should be called off.  

The party was set to celebrated  an exhibition with the theme 'About Time: Fashion and Duration,' which would have featured 160 pieces of women's fashion from the last 150 years.