Terminally-ill woman claims hospital rejected her because she's from a coronavirus hotspot

A terminally-ill cancer patient from the US says a hospital denied her treatment because she comes from a coronavirus hotspot.

Reilly Starr, 41, is a New York City local battling stage 4 metastatic breast cancer and has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

She decided to move to Richmond, Virginia, with her husband and son to be closer to family as she continues her treatment, but was horrified when she got a call from the Virginia hospital days before the move.

According to Starr, the VCU Massey Cancer Centre in Richmond told her it couldn't accept her as a patient because she comes from a "high-risk" state where coronavirus has hit the general population hard.

"I could not believe that this woman was competently telling me that they could not treat me," the mum-of-one told the New York Post.

"It was not, 'Sorry.' It was, 'We don't want you here.' "

The number of COVID-19 cases in New York City is nearing 2,000, the virus spreading quickly through the densely packed population. Meanwhile, Virginia has reported less than 100 cases of coronavirus.

But Starr says it's "preposterous" for the hospital to refuse her simply because she comes from a high-risk state, especially given she has not reported any of the symptoms of the virus.

She's already at greater risk, as her weakened immune system would struggle to fight off COVID-19 if she contracted it.

If Starr stays in New York and seeks treatment at a local hospital, where many coronavirus patients are being treated, she could be exposed to the virus.

She would also lose money on the Airbnb she and her family had secured in Richmond.

Desperate, Starr took to social media with a plea for help and was flooded with words of support, as well as frustration directed at the hospital that reportedly rejected her.

But the VCU Massey Cancer Centre told the New York Post it has "no turn away policy" and is looking into Starr's claims.

Starr said she later received several phone calls from the hospital suggesting that she could be treated there if she agreed to self-quarantine for two weeks, but the 41-year-old called the offer "unacceptable".

"I'm a terminal patient. I need care and treatment perpetually," she said.

"I should not be from prevented from care simply because of this virus given my circumstances."

Coronavirus: what you need to know

How is coronavirus transmitted?

The human coronavirus is only spread from someone infected with COVID-19 to another. This occurs through close contact with an infected person through contaminated droplets spread by coughing or sneezing, or by contact with contaminated hands or surfaces.

What are the symptoms of someone infected with coronavirus?

Coronavirus patients may experience flu like symptoms such as a fever, cough, runny nose, or shortness of breath. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia with severe acute respiratory distress.