18 members of the North Texas family reportedly tested positive for coronavirus after the birthday party

Eighteen members of a North Texas family tested positive for COVID-19 after a surprise birthday party in late May, reports WFAA-TV (Channel 8).

One of the people attended the party unaware that they had the virus, resulting in the infection of seven family members. Those seven became ill and then transmitted the virus to 10 others, WFAA said.

“It was only a couple of hours,” said Ron Barbosa, a family member who works as an EMT volunteer. “But during that brief time, somehow the other 18 family members are now infected with COVID.”

He and his wife, who is a doctor, did not attend the party due to concerns about COVID-19, he told WFAA. Barbosa said 25 people attended the party to celebrate his daughter-in-law’s thirtieth birthday and stayed for varying periods of time.

“When people started getting sick, we really let everyone have it,” said Barbosa. “We knew this was going to happen, I mean, this whole time this has been happening, we’ve been terrified.”

Barbosa told WFAA that two children; two grandparents her sister, who has breast cancer; and her parents, who are in their 80s, are among the family members who have the virus.

Her parents and sister are hospitalized, but the rest of the family is recovering, she said.

Barbosa said her sister is feeling better, but that her parents are still fighting the virus. Her mother has been in the hospital since June 13 and her father has been in the hospital since June 17 and is about to receive a ventilator, he said.

The family has been searching for blood plasma donations from people who previously had the virus and may have COVID-19 antibodies.

Barbosa said they were unable to obtain plasma donations specifically for his father because doctors told him there was a shortage, but that his family is encouraging anyone with COVID-19 antibodies to donate.

“If you’ve recovered … go donate your plasma,” he said.