Texan father who didn’t take COVID-19 seriously warns others after family contracted virus

EL PASO, Texas – A Texan father, who has ignored COVID-19 rules, urges others to take the virus seriously after his family of five falls ill.

“You have nothing else left, you have to take it seriously after this,” GM Gates told KFOX-TV.

Gates said he didn’t really take precautions to protect himself from COVID-19 until his family of five became infected and his stepfather also died of the virus.

“I was just like, ‘Well, I’m not going to worry about that. It didn’t affect anyone I know, “” Gates said.

For months, Gates said he would go out without a mask and without stepping away from others. Although he does not know when or where he contracted the virus, he said he will never forget the moment he found out he was positive.

“On the way to screening I broke down because when you start having symptoms you’re like, ‘Dude, I don’t know how bad this is going to be, but I literally only have a few days. to live, ”Gates said.

Now, Gates is asking others to do all they can to stay safe, including staying home as much as possible and avoiding non-essential activities.

“I see people in their thirties and forties, you know, having families that just walk through and don’t wear masks. Their children don’t wear masks, ”he said.

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