How Come The Rich And Famous Can Get A Coronavirus Test But You Can't?

Are you find sick and reckon you need examination for COVID-19 ? It might help if you ’re a high flying politician , a   Hollywood Hills celebrity , or just simply rich .

While much of the world is wreck witha wicked shortageof coronavirus trial , a number of famous faces have faced a backlash after unveil that they have been tested for the coronavirus , often when they did n’t show any of the tell - narration symptoms .

A mortal viral eruption is a skillful admonisher that we ’re all human . It does n’t matter if you ’re a doctor , a waiter , a chief operating officer , or a world - class jock , a computer virus is n’t excessively picky about who it taint . As you ’ve no doubt translate in the newsworthiness , a number of public figures have been test and diagnosed with COVID-19 , let in actor Tom Hanks , basketball game actor Kevin Durant , and Canada ’s First Lady , Sophie Trudeau , to name a few .

In an ideal worldly concern , everyone would get testedfor COVID-19 as it ’s the most in effect manner to monitor and , in turn , conquer a viral eruption .   However , due to short provision and a struggling infrastructure , most national authorities are only testing those who display clear symptoms . In the US , for instance , theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC ) requires that a person meet a number of strict standard before being tested for COVID-19 , such as those displaying percipient symptom of patients with sure existing medical conditions .

Despite these hurdles , a number of big celebrities   – including Kris Jenner , Drake , and the intact Brooklyn Nets basketball squad   – managed toget their hand on a testdespite many of them not meeting the nonindulgent criteria required for most people . London - tolerate actor Idris Elba also said he did n’t have any symptoms whenhe announcedhis positive COVID-19 final result on Twitter last week .

Rand Paul is the first US senatorto test positivefor COVID-19 . Paul ’s chief of stave say that   " he is asymptomatic " but was tested   because he travels a destiny . To contribute common salt to the wounding , he ’s also one of the few senators who vote against a bill last week that provided billion of dollars to promote coronavirus examination and guarantee paid disturbed leave for workers .

So , how are the racy and famous getting the tests while the majority – including wellness worker – hold off in rail line ? The short answer is , unsurprisingly , money and connections .

The US , along with most other internal wellness sureness , have pledged to make their COVID-19 symptomatic testsfreely availablefor those who need it . However , it is possible to pay for a trial at a secret lab . One Los Angeles - based “ concierge physician ” toldBusiness Insiderthat the test is included in her $ 1,500 fee for a star sign visit . The Los Angeles Timesalso found a Santa Monica - ground doctor that offered an at - home swab test for the COVID-19 starting at just $ 250 , even if the person was not exhibit symptoms or had any tangency with an septic .

It ’s grownup business too . In the UK , cardiologist Dr Mark Ali made a £ 1.7 million ( ~$ 1.98 million ) gain at his individual clinic in London by selling £ 2.5 million ( ~$ 2.91 million ) worth of COVID-19 exam in less than a hebdomad , revealedThe Times .

Meanwhile , many frontline doctor and nurses , not to remark many in earnest sick hoi polloi , are unable to get name because of mass trial shortage . The Associated Pressreports that a 30 - twelvemonth - honest-to-goodness New York resident with fibromyalgia and an autoimmune disorderliness who tried to get a test at a infirmary emergency way after fall sick with a fever and cough was told there were n’t enough tests .

“ That ’s just not fair , ” she told the AP . “ Why are they set about in front of the line ? People like me , average Joes , we get pushed to the back of the line . Why can Congress get it and we ca n’t ? ”

When ask about this potential inequality in a press briefing last week , President Trump said the well - plug into should n’t get priority for COVID-19 test , but conceded there are certain perks to being rich and famed .

“ Perhaps that ’s been the story of life story , ” Trumpsaid . “ That does materialise on juncture . "