LANCASTER – A 17-year-old Lancaster boy whose death was originally attributed to coronavirus but is now being investigated by federal health authorities sought treatment at an urgent care center but was turned away because he had no insurance, according to Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris.
In a video posted to YouTube, Parris said the unidentified teen “had been sick for a few days.”
“He had no previous health conditions. On Friday (March 13), the Friday before he died, he was healthy. He was socializing with his friends,” Parris said. “By Wednesday, he was dead.
“Wednesday, he had gone to an urgent care for an HMO. He didn’t have insurance so they did not treat him and sent him to AV (Antelope Valley) Hospital. En route to AV Hospital, he went into cardiac arrest. When he got to AV Hospital, they were able to revive him and keep him alive for about six hours, but by the time he got there, it was too late.”
“We’ve learned that once you go into respiratory issues — you have trouble breathing, you’re short of breath — and you have a fever, that is the time to get medical treatment without delay,” he said.
The boy’s death was announced Tuesday by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and was initially reported as a coronavirus case — making the teen the first known juvenile to die of the virus in the United States. Later that day, however, health officials walked back the diagnosis, saying “the case is complex and there may be an alternate explanation for this fatality.” They said the case was being investigated further by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the teen’s death is no longer included among the county’s 21 fatalities attributed to COVID-19, as of Friday, March 27.
But Parris said the boy’s death should still be taken as a warning of the severity of the virus and the need for people to adhere to stay-at-home and other guidelines mandated by health officials.
“To me it’s fabulous that everybody is just coming together to get the job done,” Parris said. “Everybody is doing their job and I’m hoping that you are too. Your first priority, keep your kids home. make certain that if you’re one of the people who are vulnerable to this — meaning my age — that you stay away from people.”
He said that when he leaves his house and returns home later, his wife requires him to take off his clothing in the garage then take a shower before he can talk to her.
“That is how serious we’re taking it, and I hope you’re taking it as serious as that,”Parris said.
JPB says
NEWSFLASH…dateline March 30, 2020…perched on a hillside overlooking the ocean in Laguna.
Rex finally fesses up that the young man who passed away did have insurance. It did not delay treatment. This came after Rex gave multiple interviews on television and to newspapers claiming the opposite.
It the wake of a sad event, Rex could not keep away from the cameras to have his image and words broadcast locally and nationally. Publicity trumps truth again for this meglomaniac. As was the case with his false report about a sheriff being shot and wounded by a mentally ill person, Rex remains unrepentant with no apology for his misinformation in either case.
Please keep the family of this young man lifted up in prayer. May those close to the family reach out with genuine care.
Meanwhile, the Sheeple of Lancaster will cast their votes for this duplicitous mayor, a man with ‘forked tongue’.
ANNON says
This young man didn’t have to die. His life was prioritized by his ability to pay, for what should be a basic need.
Facts R Stubborn says
This is a tragic story, yet you base this statement on what? The words of R. Rex Parris? The same man who has told misinformation about incidents for years. Remember the shooting of the sheriff that never happened? Does the name Raymond Lee Jennings ring a bell? Recall the Chinese birth tourism fiasco? I would wait for the facts to come out, not some rumors.
The Plutes says
Sounds like a very American way to die.
Pinocchio says
What proof does this bag of hot air have? The same proof he had when he told us that a mentally ill person shot a sheriff deputy in Lancaster? Or when he said he wasn’t trying to bring Chinese birth tourism to Lancaster when he was?
He’s changed his story several times already on this. Why should anyone believe a word he says?
Know Where To Go says
Even if he had insurance urgent care from a HMO would have sent him to the emergency room at AV Hospital.
Thoughtful Thinker says
Agreed. in addition to your comment, because of the virus, suspected victims or whoever transports them should call the medical facility in advance for instructions. Most have set up a separate entrance to prevent spreading the virus to those in the waiting room with non-virus conditions.
Sheephearder says
Look you people are blind and stupid if you believe anything this “mayor” is saying. He want treated because he was sick so sick it was obvious he had covid-19. Turned away to die. Why don’t we have testing kits up here? Oh we do now but didn’t leading up to this why? Other cities and states had them. Av hospital has their official tent set up outside where they were not testing anyone they listened to your lungs real quick said oh your fine here is some steroids goodbye everything in and out in 30 min sent back out to infect the community. Some people show no symptoms some people have mild symptoms some more sever than others, so as a community Av hospital the mayor ect has failed us. To have a hospital with drs. That think just listening to someone’s lungs alone is a diagnosis of yes or no that you have the covid-19 is irresponsible to say the least. Everyone in this antelope valley should be very afraid the numbers will be getting bigger and more deaths will follow I go out in mask and gloves worried about the people who aren’t protected because those are the people who will infect you not if they will they will! Good luck stay safe you stupid sheep.
Anon says
Rex lied again.