18 Texas Family Members COVID+ After Surprise Party, Grandparents Hospitalized, Getting Antibodies Plasma

Fort Worth’s NBC News affiliate reports:

A surprise birthday party last month has ended up with 18 members of a Texas family being diagnosed with COVID-19, including a couple in their 80s and a cancer patient.  Carole and Frank Barbosa, who are in their 80s, are among the family members fighting the coronavirus.

Both have been hospitalized for at least a week. While Carole is hoping to be home soon, Frank is in the intensive care unit, according to their children. Ron Barbosa wrote on Facebook Wednesday that his father received a crucial plasma infusion from recovered COVID-19 patients who had antibodies.

“Prayers were answered today,” he wrote. “Now he needs to get well for mom and the Barbosa Family. Please continue to give plasma after you have recovered from Covid! The waiting list is growing every hour and you will save a life!!”

The New York Post reports:



Ron Barbosa said that only seven of his family members who attended the May 30 surprise party for his daughter-in-law’s 30th birthday contracted the bug, but then took it home and infected nearly a dozen others, KHOU-TV reported Thursday.

Barbosa, a volunteer EMT who is married to a doctor, blew off the party over health concerns — but is now worried about his infected relatives, including his elderly parents, who are both hospitalized with COVID-19, the outlet said.

A total of 25 people came and went during the party, Barbosa told KHOU, including his nephew, who was unknowingly infected with the virus — assuming his slight cough was a symptom of his construction job.