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Reports of people with COVID-19 symptoms being denied testing raising questions while celebrities, athletes haven’t had issues

BOSTON — It’s a fact that there’s a shortage of test kits for COVID-19 across the nation as well as the world.

Many people who have shown symptoms of the novel coronavirus are concerned that doctors don’t have enough test kits to test them. Meanwhile, others are questioning how some celebrities are getting access, while they cannot.

Autumn Sacramone, of North Reading, took a trip to Europe recently, but that was cut short due to the outbreak. Sacramone says she came back to the U.S. due to growing concerns over the novel coronavirus. But, when she started developing symptoms, she says her doctor’s office wouldn’t test her.

“I just got back from Europe, I have a cough, and I think that it’s just weird that that haven’t tested me, they won’t test me,” said Sacramone.

Sacramone said her doctor told her to contact an emergency room if she had trouble breathing, but that otherwise she should just stay home.

“I keep calling them because I’m hoping that I can get tested and just know, because the anxiety has been eating away at me,” said Sacramone.

She says it’s unfair and unsafe at this point.

Sacramone isn’t alone - many others have faced the same struggles. Pointing to celebrities and athletes, many are saying it’s questionable they have had such easy access to testing.

Celtics’ point guard Marcus Smart, for example, was able to get tested despite not showing any symptoms. His results, however, did come back positive.

On Thursday, Smart took to Twitter to announce his diagnosis but also to push for more testing for everyone.

The issue has people now raising the question - does everyone have fair access to test kits?

At a press conference this week, President Trump was asked why so many athletes were being tested amid a shortage of test kits. He did not answer the question.

Late on Friday afternoon, a week after she first called her doctor, Sacramone said she finally got the word that she could take it.

“Testing needs to be available to more people,” said Sacramone. “I think that’s the number one thing we need to focus on right now because at least then you can self-isolate if you test positive and you can keep other people safe who may not be able to survive this as well as you are.”