Luke Letlow, a 41 year-old Republican from Louisiana, died of Covid on Tuesday night (Footage: Reuters/Luke Letlow)
A newly-elected US Congressman with no underlying well being situations has died of Covid aged 41, days earlier than he was because of be sworn into his new position. Luke Letlow, a Republican member of the US Home of Representatives, died of Covid-related issues at a hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Tuesday night time.
Letlow, a married dad to a younger son and daughter, had been because of take workplace representing Louisiana’s Fifth Congressional District on Sunday. He introduced he was isolating at house on December 18 after testing optimistic for coronavirus.
Letlow was taken to a hospital near his house in Monroe, Louisiana, the following day after his situation worsened. The politician was transferred to a hospital on Shreveport for specialist therapy on December 22, and was given antiviral drug remdesivir, in addition to steroids, to attempt to deal with his Covid signs.
Letlow despatched a tweet on December 21 urging individuals who had recovered from Covid to donate plasma to assist folks nonetheless seriously-ill with the virus. He wrote ‘Your plasma is ESPECIALLY wanted by those that are struggling. I can’t stress this sufficient.
Letlow, pictured in July, had been because of be sworn into workplace on Sunday, and leaves behind a spouse in addition to two younger youngsters (Image: AP)
‘Please take into account saving lives by going out and donating at your native blood financial institution.’
In one in all his closing tweets, Letlow additionally spoke hopefully of recovering from Covid, writing: ‘Thanks for the continued outpouring of prayers and assist for my household and me.
‘I’m at the moment present process therapy for Covid-19 at St. Francis Hospital by an exquisite crew of docs and nurses. I’m assured that with their assist that I shall be on the mend quickly.’
Speaker of the Home of Representatives Nancy Pelosi led tributes to Letlow, saying: ‘Tonight, the USA Home of Representatives sadly mourns the passing of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow.
‘Congressman-elect Letlow was a ninth-generation Louisianian who fought passionately for his viewpoint and devoted his life to public service.’
Home of Representatives Minority Chief Kevin McCarthy stated: ‘Our hearts break tonight as we course of the information of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow’s passing.’
And Mike Johnson, a Republican Consultant from a neighboring district to Letlow’s stated he was ‘devastated’ by his colleague’s dying, including: ‘Luke had such a optimistic spirit, and he had a tremendously brilliant future forward of him.’
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has ordered flags to be flown at half-mast on public buildings to mark Letlow’s dying, The New York Times reported.
Letlow is the primary elected federal authorities official to die of Covid. He’s survived by his spouse Julia, their son Jeremiah, and daughter Jacqueline.
The US has recorded 19.51million Covid circumstances, and near 339,000 deaths.
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