CT Residents Who Lost Family Members to COVID-19 Say, ‘I Want You to Live’

Chinequia Bailey and Hiram Otero Jr., from Hartford, know full well the heartbreak of losing a mother and father to the coronavirus.  They told their story to the Hartford Courant with one purpose in mind. Otero, who lost his dad this past May, told the Courant,

As much as we want to gather and be with family during this holiday season...keep it to a minimum. If you can do it by yourself, do it by yourself. This is real. This is not fake. Regardless of what our political views are, it's about saving lives.

The CDC has recently reported that 1 million COVID-19 cases were reported in the United States over the last 7 days. If you're serious about keeping your family safe this Thanksgiving, the CDC strongly recommends that you stay home and celebrate with the people you live with.

Families across the country are wrestling with this decision, so I ask myself, is it unsafe to have my daughter, who lives in Bristol, join us next week for Thanksgiving, or what about my oldest son, his wife, and our grandkids? I also have a close friend who I see regularly who's getting together with 15 family members. I truly don't feel this is a good idea for him and his immediate family. He's made it clear there is no way they are canceling their family's Thanksgiving.

99,381 Connecticut residents have been infected with COVID-19 with 4,805 deaths. Do the math, and you'll find only 4.8 percent of those infected have died. Are you willing to risk it?