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CNN and Chris Cuomo are facing controversy after a report revealed the news anchor has been receiving preferential COVID-19 testing that was arranged by his brother, New York Governor Chris Cuomo.
According to a report from the Albany Times-Union, Governor Cuomo has been arranging preferential testing for different members of his family including Chris, their sister, and their mom, Matilda.
The tests were directed by Governor Cuomo and Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker.
CNN seemed to dismiss concerns of preferential treatment in a statement on the matter.
“It is not surprising that in the earliest days of a once-in-a-century global pandemic, when Chris was showing symptoms and was concerned about possible spread, he turned to anyone he could for advice and assistance, as any human being would,” the statement read.
Gov. Cuomo spokesman and adviser Rich Azzopardi also indicated Cuomo and his family receiving testing was nothing out of the ordinary.
“In the early days of this pandemic, when there was a heavy emphasis on contact tracing, we were absolutely going above and beyond to get people testing — including in some instances going to people’s homes, and door-to-door in places like New Rochelle — to take samples from those believed to have been exposed to COVID in order to identify cases and prevent additional ones,” Azzopardi said.
“Among those we assisted were members of the general public, including legislators, reporters, state workers and their families who feared they had contracted the virus and had the capability to further spread it.”
The network, which previously banned Chris Cuomo from interviewing his brother on air, was immediately ripped on Twitter.
I fixed CNN's statement on Chris Cuomo:
"Who among us in the news business hasn't secured special health care privileges better saved for hospital workers at the beginning of a pandemic because we have personal connections to powerful political figures?" https://t.co/PazXyEpD3g
— Anthony L. Fisher (@anthonyLfisher) March 25, 2021
Chris Cuomo was spotted outside without a mask when he stated he was quarantined with COVID. He threatened people in public over this. He and his network staged a "coming out of quarantine" stunt everyone in media knew was false. But sure, *just* now it's a scandal. https://t.co/qn0Y9x5uww
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) March 25, 2021
But, let’s be honest… are we really surprised?
