Richard Wilkins hits back at fans after they slam him for being tested for coronavirus FOUR TIMES

Richard Wilkins has hit back at critics who say he shouldn’t have been tested for  coronavirus four times in less than three weeks.

After Richard shared a picture to Instagram of himself being tested last week, his followers accused him of ‘using up’ testing kits.

The Weekend Today host, 65, has been in self-isolation since announcing he his first positive test on March 12. Despite his diagnosis, he is yet to show any symptoms.

‘Stop using all the tests up please. There is not enough tests to go around. Stay inside longer, you’re not that special,’ one critic wrote. 

Richard responded to the follower by saying he was just following doctor’s orders. 

‘Just doing as I’m instructed,’ he wrote. 

Another person asked: ‘Why is it that you have been tested three times, yet there is a shortage of test kits for COVID-19 worldwide, including Australia?’

A third follower unfairly accused Richard of being tested four times because of his celebrity status. 

‘You can get tested three times but they won’t test the average person showing symptoms?’ they wrote. 

In his original post, Richard said that he didn’t want to use up the testing kits and ‘soak up resources.’

But he also told fans that he didn’t want to leave self-isolation until he has been given the all-clear from the deadly virus, to not put others at risk. 

In the image he posted, Richard is being tested by a doctor wearing an apron, gloves and mask. 

‘So… I’ve now returned a positive result THREE times… still can’t believe it as I still have ZERO symptoms,’ Richard said. 

‘They tested me again today.. and hopefully will return a NEGATIVE result. Fingers crossed!!!’ 

The TV personality went on to slam regulations that allow asymptomatic patients to interact with others, calling the advice, ‘irresponsible’.

‘The suggestion is that days after the last symptom, people should ”assume” that they’re over this thing and ”proceed with caution!”

‘I find this totally unacceptable and irresponsible! I completely understand the fact that the last thing the Health Dept wants to do is spend days retesting people like me and God knows that I don’t want to soak up resources. 

‘But I don’t see how I can walk out my front door until I have a clean ”bill of health!” I know the health system is fighting a huge battle and resources are stretched.

‘But in clear conscience… I can’t put others at risk… until I’m assured that I’m not POSITIVE anymore!’ he concluded.

Richard has been in self-isolation since announcing he had first tested positive on March 12. It is believed that Richard is still waiting for the results of his fourth test.

A NSW Health spokesperson told News Corp this week that people with the virus can leave self-isolation after 10 days, if they have been symptom-free for at least three days. News Corp reported that follow-up testing isn’t ‘mandatory.’

‘For confirmed cases with mild illness, they can now be released from self-isolation if at least 10 days have passed since the onset of symptoms and there has been resolution of all symptoms of the acute illness for the previous 72 hours,’ the spokesperson said.

They added that follow-up testing is now only required for health care workers. Previously, two negative tests were required for all cases.

‘Requirements for cases who are healthcare or aged care facility workers still require two negative COVID swabs but these can be done from 7 days after symptom resolution,’ they said.  

While it’s impossible to know with 100 per cent certainty where Richard caught the virus from, he did ‘briefly’ meet singer Rita Wilson backstage at her Sydney Opera House concert on March 7.

Rita and her husband, actor Tom Hanks, tested positive for COVID-19 on March 12. However they were given the all-clear from the virus and are now back in the US after recovering in isolation in Australia. 

As of Tuesday morning, there are 4,459 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia, including 19 deaths.