SpaceX CEO Elon Musk may have COVID-19. Musk said on Twitter that he took four antigen tests and that two of them came back positive, while the other two came back negative. Musk said he was dealing with a fever for a few days and also had "mild sniffles" and a "cough." He said he took Nyquil and was not experience any symptoms when he sent the tweet.
He said he is currently awaiting the results of a more accurate PCR test.
While the antigen tests, which look for coronavirus proteins, can produce results in just 15 minutes, they are known to produce false-positive results. The more accurate PCR tests, which look for specific genetic material from the coronavirus, must be sent to a lab for testing, which can take at least 24 hours.
The news of Musk's potential positive test comes as SpaceX is preparing to send three astronauts to the International Space Station on Saturday (November 14).
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said he did not believe the astronauts had any contact with Musk.
"This news just broke before this press conference," Bridenstine told reporters. "So as far as any contact with the [astronaut] crew, I am unaware of it. That contact tracing should be underway right now."
He said that the astronauts underwent standard pre-flight quarantine procedures but added that they will have to come in close contact with SpaceX employees ahead of the launch. It is unclear if SpaceX has begun contact tracing efforts to determine if anybody working with the astronauts were in close contact with Musk recently.
Bridenstine said that they are ready to delay the launch if it is deemed necessary.
"If there are adjustments that need to be made, we will make them," he said.
Musk said he should have the results from the PCR test by Friday night.
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