Twin Doctors Kevin & Kenneth Guerra Die from COVID-19
Kevin & Kenneth Guerra
Over the weekend, twin doctors Kevin and Kenneth Guerra died within hours of each other from complications associated with the novel coronavirus. The siblings, who were frontline workers in health facilities in the west and south, were intubated before their untimely passing. On Sunday afternoon, they were laid to rest in their hometown of Benque Viejo del Carmen before family members and friends. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
A funeral service, although abruptly carried out due to COVID-19 protocols, was held less than twenty-four hours after a pair of twin doctors from Benque Viejo del Carmen succumbed to the virus over the weekend. Residents gathered along the highway leading to the cemetery, as the bodies of siblings doctors Kevin and Kenneth Guerra were escorted by police and the fire truck and taken by Coye’s Funeral Home in matching coffins to their resting place in the town.
Grandfather of Deceased
“I felt like I was going to get crazy. It’s so sad. After so many years of them enjoying their profession, it very hurt. I am very sad for the family.”
Jorge “Milin” Espat, Area Rep., Cayo West
“Given the fact that we are cousins, I am part of the family member. And as I said, it is a sad day for the constituency, a sad day for Benque and for the family especially; a very sad day.”
The identical twins, both thirty-three years old, were doctors working within the health system – at the Independence Polyclinic in the south and at the San Ignacio Community Hospital in the west. They formed an integral part of the team of frontline workers in the fight against the pandemic and themselves became victims of the virus, leaving behind their families and loved ones. Kevin died on Saturday afternoon after being intubated at the K.H.M.H. At that time, Kenneth was also intubated and was in need of A-positive blood from a person who had recently recovered from COVID-19. Eighteen hours later, Kenneth also died from complications relating to the virus.
Jose, Family Friend
“These guys were doctors and they were fighting for people who are sick. And now two doctors who were helping people here in Belize, they are gone and it’s a waste. If you sick, just go and tell everybody you are sick because you don’t know if they have a kid or a mom and they are living together. You can kill a kid, you can kill a mother, you could kill a whole family. This is nothing to play with; this is nothing to play with.”
Jorge Gomez, Resident, Benque Viejo del Carmen
“My sympathies right now is for my friends. My doctors. When I was sick, my doctor attended to me and he being my friend and my doctor, he told me my sickness and gave me the pills and injection for my sickness and I am here right now. And that is why I come to give him my sympathy, because he is more than my doctor, he is my brother.”
The brothers were buried with Verdes Junior Club jerseys.
Zamir, Verdes Junior FC
“We retired that number because he used to be part of the Verdes Junior’s Club where we do after I left Verdes. So he was one of the man weh ask me fi make I join this team so I did it. So now that the man dead, things weh Verdes neva did fi me – retire number six – so I tell the owner of the Verdes Junior’s Club, fi make dehn retire number six, the number weh I used to use. So from today onwards, number six won’t be used every again and number fourteen won’t be used never again.”
Health and Wellness Minister, Michel Chebat attended the funeral. He says it’s a sad day for the entire country.
Michel Chebat, Minister of Health and Wellness
“Our condolences go out to the entire family and all the families who have lost loved ones. It is a very sad day for everyone. It’s a very sad moment for everybody across the country and he families here who are suffering.”
Jorge “Milin” Espat
“It’s a very sad day for the constituency of Cayo West; all the residents especially the family. We have lost two great doctors in the constituency of Cayo West.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
