A 59-year-old married couple from Chicago died just 10 days apart this month after their entire family contracted the virus after a haircut.
Mike Bruno died on Wednesday and his wife Carol, 79, died 10 days earlier, on December 14.
The entire family contracted the virus after their son Joe cut the hair of his sister Michelle, who brought his mother, Carol, to his apartment on November 20.
Now they are speaking out to warn others about the dangers of the contagious virus.
“We never thought it would happen to our family and it did, and this virus is really ruthless and attacks in really cruel ways,” the couple’s son, Joe Bruno, told ABC7.
Chicago couple Mike and Carol Bruno, who have been married for 59 years, passed away just 10 days apart this month after their family contracted the virus through a haircut
Mike Bruno died on Wednesday and his wife Carol, 79, died 10 days earlier on December 14
Before the haircut, Michelle, who works at a beauty salon, was negative for the virus.
During the haircut the family wore a mask and Carol practiced social detachment, but the three caught the virus. It is not clear who started it.
‘My sister works at a beauty salon, so just before Thanksgiving, my sister took a COVID test and was negative, and she was quarantined for three or four days after she was negative. I needed to cut my hair, and she said, “Well, why don’t I show up and cut your hair so you don’t have to go into the salon,” said Joe.
‘I didn’t hug my mother; I didn’t hug my sister. My sister cut my hair, she was masked and all the windows were open. We moved away from my apartment and then they left. They lasted maybe 40-45 minutes. Later that night, my sister started feeling symptoms and about three days later I started feeling the symptoms, ‘explained Joe.
Her son Joe Bruno says that he, his sister and her husband, his brother and his parents got the virus after his sister gave him a haircut in his apartment on November 20. His mother came for the cut and despite wearing masks and practicing social detachment, the virus spread
Michelle Wilson with her father Mike Bruno in the photo together on the left. Michelle, Joe and mom Carol photographed together on the right
Joe said that he, his brother, his sister and her husband contracted the virus after he cut his hair.
While it is unclear who brought the virus to the family, Joe says he wants the tragedy to serve as a wake-up call for other families.
‘If I had made that sacrifice and, you know, I wouldn’t have spent, you know, 30-40 minutes with my mom – they would still be here,’ he said.
The Bruno family is now demonstrating to warn about the dangers of the virus. ‘To know that they split up less than 10 days ago is such a beautiful thing. And, you know, I would give anything to bring them back, but I’m really happy that they’re together again, ‘said Joe
Joe Bruno shared this photo of his parents on their wedding day to celebrate one of their birthdays
His only consolation is that his parents died within a few days.
“I think what gives us peace is knowing that my father did not know that my mother had passed away,” said Joe.
‘To know that they split up less than 10 days ago is such a beautiful thing. And, you know, I would give anything to bring them back, but I am very happy that they are together again, ‘he added.
In Illinois, a total of 937,909 cases of COVID-19 have been reported since the start of the pandemic, as well as more than 15,969 deaths and 1,367 likely deaths.
On Sunday, the seven-day statewide positivity rate, from December 19 to 25, was 8.5%.
Across the country, more than 19 million virus cases and more than 333,000 deaths have been reported.