Sturgill Simpson Tests Positive for COVID-19 After Month-Long Struggle to Get Tested

Sturgill Simpson has tested positive for COVID-19. The country singer-songwriter posted to Instagram earlier today to discuss his diagnosis and his difficulties in getting tested.

In the post, Simpson says that he was taken to the hospital "due to chest pains, fever, and pre-stroke blood pressure levels" on March 13, the day after his American tour was cancelled partway through due to physical distancing measures imposed to slow the disease's spread.

Simpson says he was not tested at that time as he was told he "did not fit testing criteria," and was told that his travel history made it unlikely for him to have contracted the disease. Simpson had been in Western Europe in early February, after the disease is believed to have been first contracted there.

Simpson was eventually tested in Alabama on April 6. Yesterday (April 10) he learned that he tested positive, while his wife, Sarah, tested negative. Simpson claims to have been symptom-free for nearly a month before his positive diagnosis.

Simpson concluded the piece by criticizing the American government for its response to the pandemic, writing, "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 will remain under quarantine until April 19.

Read his full post below. Simpson's latest album, Sound & Fury, was released last year.
 

 

 

 

 

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Ok since they are in short supply these days here are some facts... We were on tour in Western Europe for two weeks late Jan /early Feb..then up and down the southeast/eastern US playing arena shows mid Feb to early March. We played Charleston, SC on March 10 and they pulled the plug on our tour March 12 and I returned home. This photo was taken at 9am on March 13th when my wife took me to our local hospital ER due to chest pains, fever, and pre-stroke blood pressure levels. 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. Almost one month later on April 6th my wife and I were both tested after finally finding a free drive-thru testing facility outside a National Guard depot in Alabama. Yesterday on Friday April 10th, after almost one month without any symptoms, I received a call from the Nashville CDC stating that my test resulted in a positive detection for Covid-19. My wife (who has been by my side since Europe) tested negative. I should also add that the CDC nurse I spoke to yesterday told me that it reacts differently in a case by case basis and the White House briefings and the information they are providing is basically pure speculation causing fear and that the only thing anybody knows is that we don't really know much yet. All I know is I first felt symptoms a month ago yet Im still positive and contagious and now on quarantine in the dojo until April 19th and really wishing Id taken my wife's advice and put a bathroom in the floor plans..live and learn. 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.

A post shared by Sturgill Simpson (@sturgillsimpson) on Apr 11, 2020 at 10:57am PDT