An Alabama father of two who contracted the British COVID-19 variant has lost his battle against the highly contagious virus, his wife says.
Alfonzia Jackson Jr. started getting sick around Christmas time and his symptoms got worse when he started having trouble breathing two weeks ago, wife Ashley Jackson told The Birmingham News.
Jackson was admitted to UAB hospital in Birmingham on January 22, and his wife later learned that he tested positive for the British variant which is rapidly spreading across the US.
On Tuesday she posted on Facebook that her beloved husband has died.
“Lord, this day has been difficult,” she wrote. “I wouldn’t wish this on anyone when I said goodbye to my wonderful husband. I remembered the day I said I would and we promised to spend the rest of our lives together. “
Medical experts fear the vaccines will be less effective against the various strains of the coronavirus – including those from the UK, South Africa and Brazil.