Richard Wilkins under fire for getting multiple COVID tests
Social media users have taken aim at Channel Nine personality Richard Wilkins for using up multiple coronavirus testing kits.
Confidential
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More than two weeks after testing positive to coronavirus, Richard Wilkins is facing criticism after being tested multiple times despite a looming shortage of testing kits in Australia.
The Channel 9 presenter, who has been in isolation for 18 days with no coronavirus symptoms, has been accused of “wasting” valuable resources after being tested four times in two weeks.
However, Wilkins says he’s simply following the medical guidelines, and is keen to make sure he doesn’t put anyone else at risk by going out before he is cleared of the virus.
Last week, he blasted national guidelines as “irresponsible” and revealed he has tested positive three times and is hoping to eventually get a negative result.
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Some followers on Instagram have questioned the need for repeat testing.
“Stop using all the tests up please. There is not enough tests to go around. Stay inside longer your [sic] not that special,” one person commented.
Another asked: “Just curious why you need several more tests …? Only asking as a lot of people are being turned away.”
Wilkins responded: “Just doing as I’m instructed.”
“So .... I’ve now returned a positive result THREE times... still can’t believe it as I still have ZERO symptoms,” he wrote on Instagram.
“They tested me again today ... and hopefully will return a NEGATIVE result. Fingers crossed!!! The suggestion is .... that 3 days after the last symptom ...people should ‘assume’ that they’re over this thing ... and ‘proceed with caution’ ! I find this totally unacceptable and irresponsible!
“I completely understand the fact that the last thing the Health Dept wants to do is spend days retesting people like me... and God knows that I don’t want to soak up resources... but I don’t see how I can walk out my front door until I have a clean ‘bill of health’! I know the health system is fighting a huge battle ... and resources are stretched ...but in clear conscience ... I can’t put others at risk ... until I’m assured that I’m not POSITIVE anymore!”
A NSW Health spokesperson told Confidential that as of March 21, national guidelines state that confirmed cases can now be released from isolation after 10 days if there have been no symptoms for 72 hours and that follow-up testing is not mandatory and only applies to healthcare workers.
“For confirmed cases with mild illness, they can now be released from self-isolation if at least 10 days have passed since the onset of symptoms and there has been resolution of all symptoms of the acute illness for the previous 72 hours,” the spokesperson said.
“There are similar recommendations for cases who have been hospitalised and were discharged into home isolation.
“Requirements for cases who are healthcare or aged care facility workers still require two negative COVID swabs but these can be done from 7 days after symptom resolution.
The previous process, requiring negative swabs two days apart for all recovered cases, was introduced as a cautious approach pending further information on the clinical course of illness and recovery.”
Wilkins, 65, first tested positive for COVID-19 on March 12, days after meeting Tom Hanks’ wife Rita Wilson following her intimate gig at the Sydney Opera House.
In a recent letter to all general practitioners, Australia’s chief medical officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, said COVID-19 testing kits are “rapidly deteriorating”
“...The situation regarding pathology test kits, reagents and swabs is deteriorating rapidly, with kits no longer being available in some regions of the country,” Murphy wrote.
So far, at least 180,000 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Australia and the government has ordered an additional 1.5million testing kits.