A 17-year-old who passed away after contracting the novel coronavirus despite not having any previously reported health conditions was denied treatment at a California medical facility over his lack of insurance, according to the mayor.
Mayor R Rex Parris, of Lancaster, California, confirmed the teen’s death in a video posted on Youtube on Wednesday. He warned the residents to take the coronavirus seriously and practice self-isolation and social distancing.
The Friday before he died, he was healthy, the mayor said. By Wednesday, he was dead.
The mayor said the teen “didn’t have insurance, so they did not treat him” when he arrived at the urgent care. The medical staff then told the teen to go to a local public hospital.
Enroute to AV hospital, he went into cardiac arrest, the mayor said. They were able to revive him and keep him alive for about six hours. But by the time he got there, it was too late.
WATCH MAYOR VIDEO BELOW:
The news is sad, but people please know that Urgent Cares are profit-making clinics… you either have insurance, cash or no visit. They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with this during a crisis…smh! Prayers to the young man’s family & friends.
