NORTH BERGEN, N.J. (1010 WINS) – A husband and wife from New Jersey reportedly died alone days apart in the same hospital after at least one of them got the coronavirus.
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NJ.com reported that Alfredo and Susana Pabatao, who were married for 44 years, died four days apart at Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen.
Alfredo, 68, tested positive for the coronavirus after being admitted to the hospital with a fever of 102 degrees on March 17.
Sheryl Pabatao told NJ.com that her 65-year-old mother Susana waited for days to get tested at the Bergen County Community College mobile test site, but the site reached capacity each time they went. She was eventually tested, but her results have not been returned.
Six days after her husband was hospitalized, Susana was taken to the same hospital with a 103-degree fever.
Alfredo died from the virus on March 26. Susana died four days later.
Sheryl said her mother’s health deteriorated after she heard her husband died.
“She tried to fight. But she had no progress or regression. We were probably just keeping her alive,” Sheryl said.
Sheryl said that both of her parents were health care workers who had underlying health conditions. She said they met in the Philippines before marrying and immigrating to the U.S in 2001.
Last month, the couple went to at a small family service for a deceased uncle, Sheryl said. A majority of the 12 people who attended the gathering, including Alfredo and Susana, ended up falling ill.
“My parents went from 0 to 100,” Sheryl warned. “I think people need to take this seriously. We all need to care for each other at this point. This is the time to care for our community and our neighbors."