Doctor duo, man and son, die due to coronavirus after getting infected on same day

After working to save lives amid the COVID-19 pandemic, two Florida doctors, a man and his son have died after having infected with coronavirus on the same day. It was on June 27, that Dr Jorge A Vallejo, 89, and his son, Dr Carlos Francisco, 57, were admitted to a hospital in Florida after they were tested positive for coronavirus.

Carlos was apparently infected, as he was busy treating coronavirus patients. Later, he passed on the infection to his wife and father Jorge. According to reports published in the local media, Carlos was an internist working on the frontline, and he has treated more than 70 patients, in three nursing homes.

Dr Jorge died six days after he was admitted to Palmetto General Hospital. However, Carlos battled coronavirus for more than 42 days, and he finally took his last breath on August 1. At the time of death, Carlos was undergoing treatment at the Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston, US.

“He really was a hero to so many people. I didn’t even want him to go to the nursing home and the hospitals because I was terrified. He wanted to be loyal. It was like he was available for them 24/7. He really was the true definition of a hero. I knew that when COVID started, that he was going to be a hero,” said Giselle Vallejo, Carlos’ daughter told the Herald.

Lisette Vallejo, Carlos’ wife who is also a psychiatrist hoped that their kids will follow their father’s footsteps in the coming years, and will serve the nation as doctors.

“I’m going to ask God for strength so my sons can finish medical school and follow in their father’s footsteps. I think that’s what he’d want me to do,” said Lisette.

Amid this chaos, the United States continues to top the coronavirus chaos chart with more than 5 million confirmed cases. The death toll in the country has already crossed 1,70,000, and experts believe that this figure is expected to rise in the coming days as several states are seriously considering relaxing lockdown measures.