Navy Veteran Sturgill Simpson Tests Positive for COVID-19, Goes Ballistic

Navy veteran Sturgill Simpson has had quite a year. He released a hard rock album that scared off more than a few of his country music fans, then released a Japanese anime movie that used those songs as a soundtrack. He had offbeat roles in three somewhat controversial movies and then gave an interview that trashed his record company, just before heading out on a big arena tour.

That's enough drama for anyone but, just after he had to cancel the tour on March 12, Simpson checked into a hospital with chest pains, a fever and pre-stroke levels of high blood pressure. He asked for a COVID-19 test, but the doctors refused, saying that he "didn't fit the criteria."

Sturgill and his wife got tested April 6 at a free, drive-through facility near their home. That doesn't sound like the America that I live in (here in Georgia), but apparently there are some places that are providing testing to citizens. Who knew?

The bad news is that Simpson tested positive, and now he's in the middle of a two-week self-quarantine. Fortunately, his wife tested negative even though she's been home with him since his stay in the hospital.

What's really rattled Sturgill's chain is the lack of detailed information coming from the folks in charge. "At least our government-appointed task force headed by a man who does not believe in science is against mass testing," he wrote. "And we now have a second task force in the works to 'open America back up for business!'"

Granted, it's the confusion on the ground that's making so many folks angry. What's worse? Feeling like you had symptoms, finally getting a test and finding out you're positive? Or maybe it's feeling symptoms and being told that you don't qualify for a test under current criteria?

The good news is that Sturgill is relatively young and mighty ornery. The coronavirus didn't have a chance against him. You can read his full Instagram post below.

View this post on Instagram

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. 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

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