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Comedian Joe Rogan is facing backlash after he revealed on a recent episode of his popular podcast that he’s been tested for Coronavirus multiple times.
On the same show, Rogan explained that his guests are also being tested.
Rogan hired a concierge doctor from Concierge MD LA to administer the tests and the comic said he’d been tested for the coronavirus twice in one week with negative results.
“I’m just going to test myself every three or four days. Fuck it,” Rogan joked on “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
Comedian Chris D’Elia was the guest on the same show and joked about received a test for COVID-19 prior to sitting down in the studio.
“You know why I got the test? Because I know Joe Rogan. Because I came here and he had a doctor,” D’Elia said.
VICE spoke with the doctor administering the test and he explained it’s not quite the same test that’s in short supply around the country.
Dr. Abe Malki was recently filmed performing the tests on Rogan and his podcast guest, comedian Bryan Callen.
Malki told VICE that he is mostly administering an antibody test that has not been approved by the FDA due to shortages of nasal swab tests and FDA-approved antibody tests.
“There’s about 70 companies producing antibody tests, and only one of them is FDA approved, that’s Cellex. I don’t know how the hell they got that contract that they got FDA approval, but it’s impossible to get those tests,” Dr. Malkin said.
Dr. Malki told Vice that he warns patients that this type of testing is “not FDA approved” and can’t be used for diagnosis.
“It’s more for peace of mind, for epidemiologic data,” said Dr. Malki. “But if they need a definitive diagnosis, they have to get a nasal swab.”
Naturally, some people aren’t happy about Rogan’s ability to get himself and guests tested so quickly, even though the tests being used aren’t 100% correct.
If you can’t get a #coronavirus test it’s cause Joe Rogan hoarding all them bitches. Good lord lol pic.twitter.com/TUz0krXXul
— 🗿 (@thegreyrock) April 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/SamLaw29/status/1250604420594712576
https://twitter.com/dcolon13/status/1250586126013943808
https://twitter.com/_ellenbrook/status/1250203425255587842
https://twitter.com/Ryan13Morris/status/1251605919588376579
How'd you get your test? I've been on the front lines for 18 days and have been asking for test every day! I've been in a COVID ER, MORGUE, AND CLINIC. WHERE'S MY TEST! pic.twitter.com/c0kAnI8JtT
— The Real Gomez (@ryangomez) April 18, 2020
@realDonaldTrump #joerogan #COVID19 Why does Rogan have a closet full of Covid19 tests and everyone I know can’t get a test? Someone needs to explain how this is happening? His guests have NO QUALIFYING SYMPTOM! pic.twitter.com/5cSbtrHuWn
— ComeOnInDearie (@hutto1_tina) April 16, 2020
A close friend, a doctor, presumably had Coronavirus but couldn't get tested in NYC. Cool that Joe Rogan is able to test his pals like it's nothing. https://t.co/T95TxIafr4
— Rebecca Klein (@rklein90) April 17, 2020
According to the Concierge MD LA website, either the nasal swab or the antibody test cost $299.
[via Yahoo!]