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Elon Musk claims he was tested positive and negative for COVID-19.
Elon Musk said Thursday night on Twitter that he got mixed results after being checked for COVID-19 and is currently having symptoms of common cold. Musk claims he was tested four times with a quick antigen test: two samples returned positive and two returned negative. He's still waiting for the outcome of two PCR tests, but the results won't be known for 24 hours.
Antigen tests operate by finding a tiny protein on the surface of the coronavirus, while the more precise PCR tests are for the virus itself. Antigen studies can be carried out easily, as they do not require a lab, and are often performed in hotspots such as college campuses or elderly care facilities. "Positive findings from antigen testing are very accurate, although there is a greater risk of false positives," the FDA tells us, one such antigen test from Quidel will detect coronavirus 85 percent of the time. Musk claims that his antigen test came from BD.
Something extremely bogus is going on. Was tested for covid four times today. Two tests came back negative, two came back positive. Same machine, same test, same nurse. Rapid antigen test from BD.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 13, 2020
However, Musk, a long-time COVID-19 skeptic, is challenging the legitimacy of the test with only a touch of conspiracy.
Elon Musk said on Twitter Thursday night that he had mixed outcomes after being tested for COVID-19 and is now getting symptoms of common cold. Musk appears to have been tested four times with a quick antigen test: two samples returned positive and two returned negative. He's still waiting for the outcome of two PCR tests, but the results won't be known for 24 hours.
Antigen tests are conducted by detecting a tiny protein on the surface of the coronavirus, while the more reliable PCR tests are for the virus itself. Antigen experiments can be carried out effectively, since they do not require a lab, and are often conducted in hotspots such as college campuses or the elderly. Positive results from antigen testing are very reliable, but there is a higher chance of false positives, the FDA tells us, one such antigen test from Quidel would detect coronavirus 85 per cent of the time.
The US is now seeing a further increase in COVID-19 events. Only a week after registering 100,000 cases on a single day, public health authorities announced a staggering 160,000 additional cases on Thursday, November 12, according to the New York Times. COVID-19 Hospitalizations in the US have set a high of 67,096 on the same day, according to the COVID Monitoring Programme, with more than 1,000 deaths per day on average.
Musk is the CEO of SpaceX, which is set to fly the first official crewed flight to NASA on Saturday. Back in May, Musk and NASA President Jim Bridenstine met with astronauts before going to space for an unprecedented test flight. With Musk's claim to have a positive test, it's not clear whether it will happen this time around.
If someone tests positive for COVID, here at the Kennedy Space Center and around NASA, it is our policy for that person to quarantine and self-isolate. And we anticipate it's going to take place.
Bridenstine said she was asked about Musk's tweets at a press briefing today. But it's very early right now to know if any improvements are expected at this stage. Bridenstine said. We just don't know why.
