"We've been through hell and back:" Arizona man with COVID-19 loses five family members, others gravely ill
Record ID:
1560726
"We've been through hell and back:" Arizona man with COVID-19 loses five family members, others gravely ill
- Title: "We've been through hell and back:" Arizona man with COVID-19 loses five family members, others gravely ill
- Date: 30th June 2020
- Summary: PHOENIX, ARIZONA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 29, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) 42-YEAR-OLD RICARDO AGUIRRE, SAYING: "Unfortunately, you know, it hit my cousin the hardest because she lost her dad, her husband and her grandma. She lost three of them within, you know, a couple of days of each other."
- Embargoed: 14th July 2020 02:20
- Keywords: Arizona COVID-19 Phoenix Ricardo Aguirre coronavirus family infected
- Location: PHOENIX, ARIZONA, UNITED STATES
- City: PHOENIX, ARIZONA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA006CKFCO5J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ricardo Aguirre said his family took all precautions to avoid being infected with COVID-19 in Phoenix, Arizona, including closing their lunch truck when the government ordered the shutdown back in March.
But their efforts were in vain. Ricardo caught the virus and has lost five family members, his parents are gravely ill and his entire family is infected.
"We've been through hell and back. I mean, my parents are critically, critically ill. My father was intubated May 13th," said 42-year-old Aguirre during an interview with Reuters on Monday (June 29).
Aguirre who suffered a heart attack three years ago, says that all family members infected live in separate households and family gatherings or parties never happened.
"Just to get clear, we didn't have a family gathering like some of you are saying. All you Mexicans who probably had a quinceanera or family gathering, that's why you all got infected. That's not the case."
Besides dealing with his parent's grave condition, Aguirre is also worried about his wife, who is 6 months pregnant, and his 16 and 12 year-old children, who are all fighting the disease.
Aguirre feels the government is not doing enough to stop the spread of the virus.
"I do blame the government for the new cases that are happening, because Arizona is the number one hotspot right now. We have over 70,000 new cases. Yesterday was 3,800. The governor is not doing his part, from my my point of view."
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey on Monday ordered the closure of bars, nightclubs, gyms, movie theaters and water parks, joining other states like Florida and Texas in reversing reopenings after a surge in coronavirus cases.
Ducey also delayed the start of public schools until August 17, after many school districts planned to start their new year in July or early August.
The orders, effective 8 p.m. local time, came after Arizona set a single-day record for new coronavirus cases on Sunday, after hitting a new high for COVID-19 hospitalizations the previous day.
"The time for additional action is upon us," Ducey told a press briefing. "We're not going back to normal any time soon."
Ducey also prohibited gatherings of more than 50 people, unless local jurisdictions could ensure they met safety precautions, such as physical distancing.
Aguirre made a call for people to be conscious about their actions.
"I mean, I understand we all have freedom, but at this point that comes into a second second term, I mean, if we can save as many lives as possible, then that's our, that's our duty, that's our call."
(Production: Alan Devall, Norma Galeana) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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