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Clinical Support Technician Douglas Condie extracts viruses from swab samples so that the genetic makeup of a virus can be analyzed and identified in the Coronavirus Testing Laboratory at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
The Barbosa family is a North Texas-based family that has 18 of its members battling the coronavirus after throwing a surprise birthday party.
The Dallas area family “has always been close,” Ron Barbosa told Buzzfeed News. He said many members thought it would be safe to continue spending time together during the COVID-19 pandemic, the outlet continued.
According to Buzzfeed, Ron’s nephew threw a surprise birthday party on May 30, but Ron declined to attend his daughter-in-law’s celebration, citing concerns about the virus.
The meeting consisted of 25 people and lasted a few hours, Time magazine reported. Now 18 members have tested positive for COVID-19, including Ron’s 80-something parents and his sister who are battling breast cancer, the magazine said.
Ron told Time that his family is determined to stay together while facing their current obstacles.
“We were horrified. People couldn’t believe they took it to a family member, “he told the magazine. “But now, we are holding together.”
Here is everything you need to know about the Barbosa family.
1. Ron is a voluntary EMT and is married to a doctor, according to Buzzfeed News.
Ron told Buzzfeed that he and his wife decided to refrain from spending too much time with their family outside of their own home. When they did, they would wear face masks and maintain a safe distance, the outlet said.
The EMT volunteer and photographer expressed that their other family members had not taken the same precautions, according to Buzzfeed.
“The kids feel like they are bulletproof,” he told Buzzfeed. “[They say], ‘They were safe. We are going to continue living. We are going to make trips, even. Air fares are low. We are taking off!
2.Ron says that his nephew unknowingly had the virus
GettyA temporary hospital is seen in Indio, California on March 29, 2020.
The 53-year-old man told Buzzfeed that he believes his nephew, who hosted the party with his wife, was first exposed to the disease at work. The nephew coughed on the day of the celebration, he added.
Ron also told the store that he believes some of the men in his family were exposed to the virus when they played golf together that same day.
“The next thing you know is that the two nephews who basically live next to him have the same cough and diarrhea, body aches and they start to get sick,” Ron told Buzzfeed. “By 6 [of June]There were many symptoms. And by 9, people are getting really, really bad. And by 13, [my family] I had to take my sister and mother to the hospital. “
Ron’s nephew interacted with seven relatives during the party, according to Time, who later “contracted the virus and passed it on to 10 other family members, including two young children.”
Although the family isn’t sure the party is the root of the family’s outbreak, Ron said it coincides with the timing of his symptoms, Buzzfeed said.
“It’s a great loving family that gets together all the time and has dinner and it turned out to be a surprise birthday dinner,” Barbosa told the store.
3. Since then, three family members have been hospitalized, including Rob’s parents and sister who underwent chemotherapy.
GettyIn this brochure released by the U.S. Navy, Sailors assigned to the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) treat the first patient from the Los Angeles medical facility on March 29.
Ron’s mother, Carole, stopped by the party to “drop something”, Time magazine reported. Later, the 86-year-old woman tested positive for COVID-19 on June 6. She was hospitalized a week later, the magazine continued.
Her father, Frank, on the other hand, did not attend the meeting but also contracted the virus. He was hospitalized on June 17, Time said.
Rob told the magazine that his 88-year-old father is “hanging by a thread” and is on life support in the ICU.
According to the family’s private Facebook page, Carole returned to her home to recover, Time reported.
Ron’s sister was also released and “feels better” at home, the magazine said.
4. Ron is urging others to donate plasma after his father received a donation
According to Barbosa’s Facebook page, Frank received a plasma donation from a recovered coronavirus patient, Time reported.
Ron told the magazine that he hopes the donation will help save his father’s life.
“The prayers were answered today,” Ron wrote on Facebook, Time said. “Now he (Frank) needs to improve for mom and the Barbosa family.”
The EMT volunteer said his father’s condition has improved slightly, although “he is still very sick,” Buzzfeed said.
Ron is now urging people with COVID-19 antibodies to donate their blood for convalescent plasma therapy, Buzzfeed continued.
“My message is that if you’re going to see a family and they don’t live with you, mask yourself and keep your distance,” said Barbosa, Buzzfeed reported. “I want everyone to be with their loved ones. I just want everyone to be cautious and not try to take photos and selfies with a group of 20 people. ”
5. Texas is seeing an increase in coronavirus cases after an aggressive reopening
GettyTexas Governor Greg Abbott announces the reopening of more Texas businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic at a press conference at the Texas State Capitol on May 18, 2020 in Austin, Texas.
Governor Greg Abbott recently revealed that Texas would pause “further reopening,” Buzzfeed reported, after an alarming increase in the number of cases and hospitalizations.
The number of reported cases statewide was over 140,000 as of June 27, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The new daily cases were 5,747.
“The last thing we want to do as a state is go back and close deals,” Abbott said in a statement obtained by Buzzfeed. “This temporary pause will help our state corner the spread until we can safely enter the next phase of opening our state for business.”
The state has seen more than 2,300 deaths, the state health department reported.
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