Los Angeles is officially the first major city in the United States to offer free coronavirus tests to all of its residents, even those who have not experienced any symptoms. Major of Los Angeles County, Eric Garcetti, made the announcement on Wednesday during his daily briefing. "Tonight, I am proud to announce that Los Angeles will become the first major city in America to offer wide scale testing to all of its residents, with or without symptoms," he stated. Prior to this change, all 34 drive-thru sites around L.A. had restricted testing only to individuals who had experienced symptoms—fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath—or essential front-line workers, like grocery store employees and rideshare drivers, who had not yet experienced symptoms.

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While testing at these sites will now be available to any and all residents, these essential front-line workers and those experiencing symptoms will still be given priority. 

Renown singer-songwriter Sturgill Simpson has tested positive for COVID-19, as confirmed by a post on his Instagram.

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Simpson explains that he began experiencing symptoms weeks ago, but was refused a test until April 6. He cited “chest pains, fever, and pre-stroke blood pressure levels.” The long caption is accompanied by a picture taken of Simpson when he first went to the hospital on March 13.

“I spent an hour listening to a (highly condescending) Doctor refuse to test me because I ‘did not fit testing criteria’ and tell me why it was impossible that I had contracted the virus due to its extreme rarity and that it was not in western Europe yet during that same period (which we now know is incorrect) even though I was told by two nurses that I was the first person their hospital had walk-in requesting to be tested,” Simpson explains.

Simpson ends the post saying, “But hey, at least our Government-appointed task force headed by a man who does not believe in science is against mass testing and we now have a second task force in the works to ‘open America back up for business!’ Dick Daddy out.”

Simpson was touring when the coronavirus outbreak began.

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The Senator of Kentucky reportedly has the coronavirus. Rand Paul’s office announced Sunday afternoon that he has tested positive for COVID-19, making him the first senator and the third known member of Congress to test positive for the coronavirus.

In a tweet Paul’s account, the Kentucky senator’s office said that after being tested out of “an abundance of caution” in light of his extensive travel and events, he is feeling "fine" and asymptomatic while being in quarantine.

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Paul’s office added that the Kentucky senator was unaware of being in direct contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19. He expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends. See his tweets (below).

The Senator of Kentucky reportedly has the coronavirus. Rand Paul’s office announced Sunday afternoon that he has tested positive for COVID-19, making him the first senator and the third known member of Congress to test positive for the coronavirus.

In a tweet Paul’s account, the Kentucky senator’s office said that after being tested out of “an abundance of caution” in light of his extensive travel and events, he is feeling "fine" and asymptomatic while being in quarantine.

Sarah Silbiger/ Getty Images

Paul’s office added that the Kentucky senator was unaware of being in direct contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19. He expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends. See his tweets (below).

It looks like the coronavirus has infiltrated itself into the Rikers Island prison system in New York City. According to multiple reports, 38 people have tested positive for covid-19, including 21 inmates and 17 employees.