NFL agent Buddy Baker, the CEO of Exclusive Sports Group, shared a heartbreaking message on social media. Baker shared a video where he revealed both of his parents have passed away due to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
Baker, who represents NFL stars like tight end Jack Doyle and wide receiver Terry McLaurin, said his parents were in perfect health just a few weeks ago.
His parents had been married for 51 years before dying just six minutes apart.
“My parents were amazing people,” Baker said. “They were married 51-plus years and they passed away six minutes apart. Just a few weeks ago, they were in perfect health. We live in a world of, ‘It can’t happen to me. It can’t happen to us. It can’t happen to my family.’ Well, it happened to us. I’d like to take this time to make people start thinking about making a change. While the CDC and all the regulatory bodies make suggestions about what we should do, I’m not sure everyone understands the importance of it. Hopefully, this can be the catalyst for a change. Practice social distancing. Wash your hands as regularly as you can. And importantly, stay at home.
“It’s not the easy choice, but it’s the right choice. It’s the safe choice.”
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 the United States and China — with more than 3,000 deaths in the United States which surpasses the death toll of the September 11 terrorist in New York City — it has now reached many countries around the world. It has also been confirmed in Italy, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and many other eastern countries.
