‘People are dying alone’: Las Cruces city councilman loses uncle to Covid-19
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- After losing his uncle to Covid-19, a Las Cruces city councilman is urging the public to wear masks and prevent the loss of more lives.
“People are dying alone," said Councilman Gabe Vasquez, who represents district three. "There wasn’t a hand for my uncle to hold or a reassuring voice."
The councilman said he always remembered his uncle, Sergio, playing the piano for his family. All his life, Sergio loved working in restaurants.
"He worked all his life being a server at restaurants and he took pride in his job," said Vasquez. "He loved to please people and customers. He loved to joke around with them and he was happy with where he was at in life."
As of Tuesday, more than 120,000 people had died of Covid-19 in the United States. In Doña Ana County, eight people have died of the virus so far.
"The responsible thing to do as a good neighbor in Las Cruces and Juarez and El Paso is to wear a mask," Vasquez said. "The inconvenience of wearing a temporary cloth over your face does not trump the health and safety of others in your community."
