Valley man denied testing for coronavirus despite probable cause

PHOENIX – A Valley man said that he and his son were denied testing for COVID-19 despite having possible contact with somebody who has coronavirus.

John Carey said his 5-year-old son was sent home on Wednesday because one of the staff members at his son’s school, Lexington Life Academy in Phoenix, was possibly exposed to coronavirus.

“When I tried to contact the school, I could not get through,” Carey told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Friday. “Because my son has been sick for five weeks with several different confirmed diagnoses, I was really concerned that his immune system was compromised and if he had any interaction with the staff whatsoever that it could really be serious.”

Carey said he contacted the closest hospital, Banner Estrella, to let them know they were coming in. Upon their arrival, staff ushered them into a secure environment.

He and his son were tested for influenza A and B. When those tests came back negative, they took swabs for coronavirus; however, they were told those tests did not get run.

“We were finally told that we would not be tested, that it would be in our best interest to keep ourselves basically quarantined, and if and when the CDC gets confirmation of the staff member, then we will be called back to the ER and we will be tested,” Carey said.

Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill Thursday night that would allocate $55 million for Arizona to combat coronavirus. The action came one day after Ducey issued a declaration of public health emergency for Arizona due to continuing coronavirus concerns.

On Friday, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency over the outbreak.

Carey said the staff at Banner was fighting for the testing for him and his son, but the CDC and Maricopa County Health Department will deny testing if a person cannot prove exposure.

In Carey’s case, the CDC did not have a documented case of coronavirus for the staff member at his son’s school.

“My concern is if I have reasonable doubt, and I can prove that the situation is serious, and I’m not just coming in thinking that somebody looked like they had coronavirus and they touched me or breathed on me or was acting like I was being hypersensitive about the situation, that I should be given the opportunity to be tested by the physician of my choice,” Carey said.

KTAR News reached out to the Arizona Health Department for comment, but did not receive a response.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Ali Vetnar contributed to this report.

Related

Backlog of coronavirus testing in Arizona continues to growHere is a list of Arizona school districts that are closed because of coronavirusHere's how coronavirus has affected Arizona since the start of MarchList of Arizona events canceled or postponed in response to coronavirusWoman hospitalized, 2 in custody after gun sale leads to shooting outside Mesa Bass Pro ShopsSAFE Alert issued for 85-year-old man last seen in Phoenix