Truck driver dies of coronavirus day after admitting attending a BBQ party with pals in guilty Facebook post
A TRUCK driver has died from coronavirus just one day after admitting he attended a party where he ignored social distancing guidance.
Thomas Macias, from California, wrote the regretful message on Facebook after he put his family at risk by attending the barbecue party in Lake Elsinore – where he contracted the virus.
The 51-year-old, who died just six days after testing positive, wrote: “Some of you may know, but most don’t.
“I…went out a couple of weeks ago and I contracted the coronavirus.
“Monday I tested for it and it was confirmed on Thursday. Because of my stupidity, I put my mom and sisters and my family’s health in jeopardy.
“This has been a very painful experience. This is no joke.
“If you have to go out wear a mask and practice social distancing.
“Don’t be a ****ing idiot like me.
“Thank you to all my friends that have brought me food, and to everyone who has been there for me.
“Hopefully with God’s help I’ll be able to survive.”
‘THIS IS NO JOKE’
Macias sadly died one day after posting on social media.
An official from the Riverside County Office of Vital Records confirmed that Macias died from COVID-19 on June 21.
From late March through early June, Macias was going out only when necessary, his brother-in-law Gustavo Lopez said.
He added: “He was quarantining because he was overweight and had diabetes.”
Lopez said that sometime in early June, however — after Governor Gavin Newsom indicated that he would loosen social distancing restrictions — Macias attended a party in Lake Elsinore, about 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles, where he lived.
He said: “He was missing his friends and missing his family.
“So as soon as they lifted some of the restrictions he felt free and he, unfortunately, went to this get-together to be with his friends and then this was the result”
Afterwards, one of Macias’ friends, who was also at the party, told the truck driver that he had tested positive for the virus.
The friend told Macias that he was aware of the diagnosis when he attended the gathering – but didn’t think he could infect anyone else because he wasn’t showing symptoms.
KEEP YOUR DISTANCE
Lopez said: “Our understanding is that a gentleman had called him and said ‘hey I was at the party, I knew I was positive. I didn’t tell anybody.'”
“I think the gentleman was regretting not telling everybody, and he was calling people who were at the party to recommend they get tested.”
Macias was upset, but blamed himself – and used his Facebook post to warn friends about the dangers of the virus.
Lopez said that he was unsure how many people went to the party but that Macias was among more than a dozen people who contracted COVID-19.
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Macias was tested on June 15, got his positive result on June 18, and died June 21.
Riverside County has over 18,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and about 460 deaths. It has the second-highest number of cases in the state after Los Angeles County.