Who Can and Can’t Get Tested for Coronavirus?

As the coronavirus outbreak increases in severity and celebrities from Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson to Idris Elba announce their positive test results, many may be wondering how they can get tested for the virus.

If you’re one of those people, the process may be less straightforward than you’d initially think.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every state in the U.S. currently has the ability to test for COVID-19. However, there are currently limited numbers of tests, and not everybody can access one. An article from The Verge said that, until just last week, the U.S. only had the resources to test about 7,000 people per day. Now that tests are more widely available, hospitals are scrambling to acquire them.

Until March 4, only those who were confirmed to have been exposed to the virus or had travelled to a high risk country were recommended by the CDC to be tested. Now, anyone who has shown symptoms, is in a high risk medical category or has been in contact with an infected person can get tested, so long as they have a doctor’s approval.

Because some areas have more or less demand for testing than others, this doctor discretion seems to vary by hospital. In places where an abundance of people need testing, even people showing symptoms may be denied.

But, why are celebrities like Elba, who showed no initial symptoms, able to get tested while sick civilians are not? This is likely because testing seems to be decided on a case by case basis. Some people—whether well-connected, famous or wealthy—could allegedly have higher accessibility to testing.

That does not mean that you shouldn’t try to get tested if you start to show symptoms, though. Call your primary doctor or local hospital if you start to show these symptoms:

• Fever
• Dry cough
• Sneezing
• Shortness of breath
• Body aches

If you’re able to get booked for a test, expect to have a sample taken through your nose or throat using a medical swab.