American actress Debi Mazar has announced that she has tested positive for the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19).
The star took to social media to share the news with her fans, detailing her experience on what it was like to get tested for Covid-19, and how difficult it was to get proper care and treatment.
"I have just tested positive for Covid-19. I AM OK," she began.
"About a month ago, my entire home (husband and two teen daughters) got an odd bug...," she continued, "Low grade fever, headaches, sore throat, body aches, ears ringing and a dry cough.
"It cleared up quickly. Seasonal I thought? but it felt unusual / different... Two weeks later, March 15th, I woke up with all those same symptoms but super intense body aches, and 102.4 fever. I figured maybe I got the flu or..Corona?"
"I figured I had jacked my immune system from having a fun night with friends," she went on.
"I called a doctor/friend to ask if I could get the Covid-19 test. He said NO."
According to the actress, her doctor friend said she "didn't meet the criteria" to get tested for Covid-19.
"I hadn't recently travelled out of the country and I hadn't been with someone who had actually tested positive," she expressed of her friend's reasoning.
"I found this kind of a CRAZY criteria for a NY'er as I had taken the subway, gone to the theatre, the grocery store, the pharmacy, hair salon, etc. I was the Mom who was trying to prepare the home and get supplies and bleach wipes, dry goods, extra food etc."
Ms Mazar was able to finally get tested after another friend notified her of test kits that were available at the "CityMD/Urgent Care" in her neighbourhood.
"First I was tested for the flu-which was negative. Then they tested me for Covid-19. I was sent home and told to quarantine myself until I had results, which would take 3-7 days (in S.Korea it takes two hours)," she added.
"Well.. today is day 5 and I just found out."
Debi told her followers and fans that she and her family are "under quarantine for 14 days." and that her nearest and dearest "have no symptoms" at this time.