Celebrities, politicians slammed for getting tested for coronavirus while those in need are hit with delays
Many celebrities, politicians and professional athletes are facing a lot of criticism and backlash as many revealed they have been tested for coronavirus though they did not have a fever or other symptoms. There are many concerns about celebrities and politicians receiving preferential treatment, which sheds a light on the inequalities rampant in the American health care system. This implies that those with financial means are often given a different level of service.
When asked about this scenario, POTUS Donald Trump shared that the well-to-do and well-connected should not be given any priority for coronavirus tests. However, he did admit that the rich and famous do sometimes get perks, Global News reports.
While speaking at a briefing at the White House, Trump shared, "Perhaps that’s been the story of life. That does happen on occasion. And I’ve noticed where some people have been tested fairly quickly." On Wednesday, March 18, the Brooklyn Nets professional basketball team announced that the whole team had been tested after returning from San Francisco.
The team had used the help of a private lab on Tuesday, March 17, and it was revealed that four of its players had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Although the public health services were not used, it raised several objections.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio took to Twitter to share, "We wish them a speedy recovery. But, with all due respect, an entire NBA team should NOT get tested for COVID-19 while there are critically ill patients waiting to be tested. Tests should not be for the wealthy, but for the sick."
The general public has expressed their frustration at the difficulties of getting tested for the virus that gripped the world. Even those people who manage to get tested have claimed that there are long delays before the results come back.
In order to deal with the backlog, the federal Food and Drug Administration announced that they would allow major private diagnostic lab companies to start rolling out new tests. They also relaxed regulations that are usually required before the tests are introduced into the market.
The last two weeks has seen a rise in testing available from private doctors and labs that aren't bound by CDC's criteria to stick to priority testing- those with symptoms of fever and difficulty breathing who have traveled to affected countries abroad or those who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.
However, some celebrities like Heidi Klum also expressed frustration due to an inability to get tested. On Friday, March 13, the TV personality and model posted a video on her Instagram stories, claiming that she tried two doctors without luck. "I would love to do the corona test but there just isn’t one here. I’ve tried with two different doctors and I just can’t get one," she said.
According to some doctors, prominent figures appeared to be moving to the front of the testing line. Dr. Uché Blackstock from Brooklyn took to Twitter to share, "As predicted, #COVID19 is exposing all of the societal inequities."
"It’s upsetting for me to 1) have to ration out #COVID19 testing to my patients, then 2) have to wait 5-7 days for the results, when celebrities are getting tested with ease and quick turnaround time," he wrote.
As per a New York Times report, four senators and nearly a dozen House members have chosen to self-quarantine after possible exposure to the virus. The report further states that some who obtained tests were close allies of the president —Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina; Representative Mark Meadows, Republican of North Carolina and the incoming White House chief of staff; and Representative Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida. Their tests came back negative.