Bassey Offiong, a US-based 25-year-old Nigerian student has died of Coronavirus.
Despite having fever, fatigue and breathing difficulties, Bassey reportedly died after hospitals allegedly refused to carry out a Coronavirus test on him in the Kalamazoo, Michigan, NewsWatch reported
Bassey’s sister, Asari wrote on Facebook that she told her brother to request for a test, but he said medical workers refused to carry out a Coronavirus test on him.
Asari added that one medical staffer told his brother he had bronchitis, not Coronavirus.
Bassey was hospitalized at Beaumont in Royal Oak where he spent the last week on a ventilator in their intensive care unit before his death.
President of Western Michigan University Edward Montgomery in a tribute to Bassey said he was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of their students, adding that the deceased was a young man of enormous potential.
Montgomery posted on Facebook that;
On behalf of the entire Bronco community, I want to extend my deepest condolences to his entire family, including his sister Asari, who has been generous in communicating with us regularly. They are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department expresses that;
We are truly saddened to learn of the death of a Western Michigan University student due to COVID-19. Our thoughts are with the student’s family and WMU as they grieve the loss of a loved one. We know this student was not a Kalamazoo County resident.
The county added that;
This virus has no borders when it comes to who it affects and how it is spreads… Stay home and, if you must go out for essential items, stay safe by taking preventative measures.
Bassey was expected to graduate with a chemical engineering degree in a few weeks.
As at March 30, United States has recorded 159,689 Coronavirus cases and 2,951 deaths.
