Family shocked after COVID claims patriarch

Three weeks ago, Sandrica Thomas showed up at her father's home in August Town, St Andrew, hoping to surprise him.

But her dad, 54-year-old Courtney Thomas, wasn't at home. She left, intending to visit him at another time. But before she could, he was hospitalised after testing positive for COVID-19. Thomas died two weeks after being admitted at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH).

Sandrica, 18, said that her dad was sent home from his job a week before being hospitalised after showing a symptom of the virus.

"He was at work and the HR manager heard him coughing and gave him seven days to stay home. He never really show much symptoms but he went to a private doctor and they gave him a referral to go KPH," she said "He never had any underlying issues either so I don't know how he it just killed him like that."

She added "When we were talking to him he could hardly breathe, so we had to hang up the phone. He was on the ventilator and life support machine."

Sandrica revealed that her family is having a hard time coping with her father's death. She said they have no idea when he will be laid to rest.

"With all these restrictions and changes, we can't even start to plan anything because we don't know, and to make it worse, he died from COVID," she said. "I have lost a lot of weight since my dad died, I have sleepless nights and I just can't stop crying. My brothers and sisters are the same. I was really close to my dad so I feel it. I know that people are dying from COVID but I never expected to lose anyone from it, especially my dad. Right now I know how it feels to lose a loved one."

35,800 positive cases

Up to Sunday, 536 Jamaicans have died from COVID-19. Globally, there have been more than 2.7 million deaths. The country has recorded more than 35,800 positive cases, with 18,801 of them being active. In an attempt to flatten the curve, the Government has imposed various restrictions.

Burials will now only be allowed between Mondays and Fridays, between 9 a.m and 4 p.m. The number of mourners is restricted to 10, with an additional five persons, which must include clergy, gravediggers and undertakers. Burials must not last longer than 30 minutes.

The Government has also instructed that all students and teachers return to virtual learning until April 13. The number of attendees allowed at a wedding is now 15 down from 25, while the limit for general gatherings remains at 10.

Having lost her dad, Sandrica believes that the tightening of the restrictions is necessary. She also urged Jamaicans to take heed before it's too late.

"COVID is real and people should stop playing around, please don't wait until it's too late. I never use to take it serious but now I wear my mask everywhere," she told THE STAR.