Joe Rogan is the host of one of the most-listened to podcasts on the planet, The Joe Rogan Experience, but some of his fans aren’t happy after the comedian revealed that he has access to multiple COVID-19 tests. Not only has Rogan been tested himself numerous times, but he also has his guests tested.
Earlier this week, while speaking with comedian Chris D’Elia, Rogan revealed that he tested D’Elia before the episode began.
https://youtu.be/98mh3jxcuxI
“Chris D’Elia is negative. Yayyyy!” Rogan said at the start of the show, and D’Elia responded: “That’s right, I got the test.” Rogan then asked D’Elia, “Isn’t it nice?” and he replied: “You know why I got the test? Because I know Joe Rogan. Because I came here and he had a doctor.”
“I got tested yesterday, and I got tested two days before that. I’m just going to test myself every three or four days. F–k it,” said Rogan.
According to Vice, Rogan is paying Los Angeles concierge doctor Abe Malkin to test his guests, including D’Elia and Bryan Callen, who showed up later in the episode. Considering the fact that many people around the country can’t get tested and hospitals in hotspots like New York City are “days” away from running out of tests, some fans took to social media to express their anger about Rogan’s supposed bragging.
Huffington Post reporter Rebecca Klein tweeted: “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://twitter.com/AaronRobertUFC/status/1251493944023822337
“People like Joe Rogan bragging everyday how him and his friends are being tested daily is just ridiculous,” tweeted another skeptic. “Joe Rogan has had multiple coronavirus test with negative results. What the hell man?”
However, there does need to be some clarification about the testing. Concierge MD LA did offer nasal swab testing a few weeks ago, but now they are using antibody tests that have not been FDA approved. The government regulation is preventing hospitals and other healthcare facilities from using non-FDA approved tests, but they are still being used in the private sector in response to the pandemic.
“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,” Malkin told Vice. “I give everyone a disclaimer, it’s not FDA approved, you can’t use this for diagnosis, it’s more for peace of mind, for epidemiologic data. But if they need a definitive diagnosis, they have to get a nasal swab.”
Social distancing! Plus we’re both “rona free!” Great time today with the all powerful @donnellrawlings! Podcast will. E available tomorrow 4/17 at 12pm PST. Enjoy!
Posted withregram • @donnellrawlings Gang gang!… https://t.co/zSwCwpMfoY
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) April 17, 2020
This is why wealthy people and celebrities are getting “tested” and low-income people aren’t. The test isn’t FDA approved, so hospitals and other healthcare facilities won’t use it for a diagnosis. Currently, Concierge MD in Los Angeles is charging $299 for “in-home coronavirus testing.”
Advertisement
Malkin says that he tested about 300 people last week, and about five percent of asymptomatic people tested positive on antibody testing. He also revealed that between 10 and 20 percent of symptomatic people have tested positive with antibody testing. Dr. Malkin also revealed that everyone who was a known positive has also tested positive with antibody testing, making it clear the non-FDA approved tests are accurate.
ncG1vNJzZmiblaGyo77IrbCipqOesaa%2BjaipoGeapLJuvs6gmKdlkaO0pr7SZqqopZVivKd5x6KqZp6Ro8BurcWtnKtloprDpq3LoqWgZZiawG6uxJ6lZqyVqMGmsIymrKWsmaW5pnnToqSeq12bvLN5wqitopxdZoZuf5dxb2lrXw%3D%3D