Rachel Maddow pleads "don't get this thing" after revealing her partner's battle with coronavirus

In a highly personal and impassioned segment from her home Thursday night, Maddow explained why she hasn't been on-air since Nov. 6, the day before Joe Biden was declared president-elect. Maddow revealed her partner of 21 years, Susan Mikula, had tested positive for coronavirus and that she had been trying to take care of her while staying apart from her. Maddow said she has tested negative several times. "Susan has been sick with COVID these past couple of weeks. And, at one point, we really thought that there was a possibility that it might kill her. And that's why I've been away," Maddow explained. Maddow added: "The bottom line is that she's going to be fine. She is recovering. She's still sick, but she's going to be OK. And we're not scared anymore like we were, but it really didn't feel like it was going OK at the outset." Maddow used her story to warn viewers to "don't get this thing. Do whatever you can to keep from getting it," especially with the Thanksgiving holiday coming up. "I would have moved mountains for it to have been me who was sick these past couple of weeks instead of Susan," said Maddow. "I still would give anything for that. But this thing does not give you that choice. It won't necessarily be you. It'll be the person you most care about in the world. And how can you bear that? And all you can do to stop that is move heaven and earth to not get it and to not transmit it."