Bassey Offiong, a senior student at Western Michigan University, has passed away at age 25 from the coronavirus. According to a WXYZ report, Offiong was set to graduate from the university in a matter of weeks.
Offiong was a chemical engineering major.
According to the Detroit News, the 25-year-old was showing symptoms of the novel coronavirus but he refused to get tested. Offiong had been living off-campus in the Kalamazoo area. Offiong spent one week on a ventilator before passing away.
“We urge everyone to help us fight community spread by following the governor’s executive order. Stay home and, if you must go out for essential items, stay safe by taking preventative measures,” a Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department official said.
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The coronavirus outbreak has led to the cancellation or postponing of many large events including the NCAA Tournament, Coachella, SXSW, the Winter X Games, Stagecoach, Ultra Music Festival in Miami, and more. The NBA, NHL, and MLS have temporarily suspended their seasons.
The coronavirus mainly comes from animals and a majority of those who were infected early either worked at or frequently visited the Huanan seafood wholesale market in Wuhan, according to The Guardian. The virus is similar to Severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (Mers).
The Wuhan coronavirus is transmitted from person to person through “droplet transmission.” That means an infected person can pass the virus by sneezing or coughing on another person as well as by direct contact.
While a majority of the cases have been detected in China, it has now reached many countries around the world including the United States. It has also been confirmed in Italy, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and many other eastern countries.
