- The representative of Tennessee, David Byrd, once supported the view that the media was inciting the Covid-19 pandemic.
- During the 8 months of fighting the virus, he suffered from pneumonia, jaundice and liver failure.
- He now hopes that sharing his near death experience will help people take the virus seriously.
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Rep. David Byrd, Republican of Tennessee, urged the public to take Covid-19 seriously and was vaccinated after 8 months of fighting the virus, which made him hospitalized and put on a ventilator 55 days.
In a statement last FridayHe wrote that he was diagnosed with the virus the day before Thanksgiving last year and was admitted to the hospital on December 5.
The representative previously voted for Resolution of June 2020 Blaming the media for the sensational Covid-19 pandemic. He also participated in the retreat of the House Republican Caucus The members in November last year involved barbecues and boat trips. Despite the cases, many of them did not wear masks It was all the rage in its current state.
But after the battle with Covid-19, Bird now wants people to take the virus seriously, calling it “real and dangerous.”
“Until this point in my life, I have been very healthy and active. Stupidly, I think this virus will only severely affect high-risk groups,” he wrote in a statement obtained by News Channel 5 Nashville.
Bird said the virus infected his lungs at “lightning speed” and he was diagnosed with pneumonia. He was placed on a ventilator in the intensive care unit, and his family had planned the possibility of a funeral.
“I am getting sicker and more anxious. Every breath is pure pain,” he wrote.
He said that when his lungs improved, his liver began to fail and jaundice appeared, putting him at risk of fatal again. He added that in general, he stayed in a hospital or rehabilitation facility for eight months.
Bird said that he hopes that sharing his experience will show that the virus is “an enemy who doesn’t know skin color, economic status, or political affiliation.”
“I have never opposed vaccination against Covid-19, but I understand the concerns of those who hesitate. For them, I would say that Covid is real and very dangerous,” he said.
“This is a disease that wants to kill us. Please take it seriously. Please consider getting vaccinated. This is a problem that should not divide us,” he continued.
In 2018, Bird Accused by three women of sexually assaulting them When he was their high school basketball coach. Bird did not directly deny the allegations, but said he could not recall the incidents mentioned by these women.although Telephone Regarding his resignation by other representatives after the allegations, Bird did not resign.
