Man dies of COVID-19 after attending a meeting; authorities recommend the use of a mask for protection
On June 20, Thomas Macías, 51, wrote a message on his Facebook account regretting going to a party and putting himself at risk of acquiring the coronavirus. A day later he died of COVID-19.
Macías' family told the media that the man, who was a truck driver, had diabetes and had been very careful with his health since the outbreak of the pandemic. What's more, it avoided unnecessary exits.
However, when he heard that the orders to stay home began to relax and the business reopening began, he decided to attend a party in Lake Elsinore, a city located in Riverside County.
Days later an acquaintance called him to tell him that he was infected with coronavirus but that since he did not show any symptoms he thought that he was not going to infect anyone. Still, he recommended Macias do the test.
“On Monday I did the test and they confirmed me (positive) on Thursday. Due to my stupidity I put the health of my mother, sisters and family at risk, ”Macías said in his Facebook message on June 20.
"This is a painful experience. It is not a joke. If you have to go out put on a mask and practice social distancing ”, he added.
He finished his message hoping that he could get better, but he failed.
On June 21, he was taken to the hospital emergency around 11:00 a.m., he was put on an artificial respirator in the afternoon and at 9:00 p.m., he died, his brother-in-law Gustavo López confirmed to the media.
Infected without symptoms
Because this weekend celebrates one of the nation's greatest traditions, United States Independence, it will be common to see people want to celebrate in the company of family and friends in some home — since bars, beaches, and others establishments will be closed by orders of the authorities.
For this reason, Dr. Ilan Shapiro, medical director of health and wellness education at AltaMed, recommended that people be very careful, especially when the virus remains in a "low profile", as happened at the party that Macías attended.
Shapiro said that there are two types of people infected with coronavirus, where the infection acts as a silent enemy.
Asymptomatic, who have the virus but do not have symptoms, such as fever, cough, trouble breathing, or loss of smell or taste. However, the virus continues to reproduce as it is found in the throat and / or nose.
And there are also the pre-symptomatic; that is, those who are with the virus just before developing any type of discomfort and all its complications.
"What we fear most now is that people are out with no symptoms and they can make other people sick without knowing it … It takes about five days for symptoms to appear," Shapiro said.
"And those who are asymptomatic carriers who have the virus in the throat and nose can spread it to other people because the virus is there (present)."
The doctor added that this weekend it is important to take into account three rules if people plan to meet.
First, social distancing. When someone has the virus, they need humans to reproduce. It doesn't live long on surfaces, so it needs another human to continue reproducing.
"So, the moment we break that social distancing, it is much more difficult for someone else to pass us that 'gift' if they are pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic," explained the doctor.
The second is washing hands with soap and water, because when a person grabs something or touches someone and then puts his hand to his face, nose and / or mouth, the possibility of contagion increases.
And finally the use of masks.
"That is what really limits the amount of mucus, cough and anything that comes out of our mouth and nose to the outside," Shapiro said.
"In this way we do not water any kind of things (viruses) and the face mask protects us from anyone else who can pass us those droplets (which contain the disease).
