Mother and Three Sons Die from Coronavirus

News reports across the country are sharing the unfortunate story of an elderly woman, and her three sons contracted the malicious Coronavirus and all succumbing to it. Antoinette Franklin, 86, along with her two sons Herman Franklin Jr., 71, Anthony Franklin, 58, and Timothy Franklin, 61, all passed within a week of one another. All four were residents of New Orleans, Louisiana. Antoinette Franklin leaves nine other children to cherish her memory.

Louisiana has been one of the epicenters for the Coronavirus and is considered one of the hardest-hit states in America. Data shows that New Orleans has double the rates of death per capita than New York City. Reports published by health officials share that 70% of COVID-19 cases in Louisiana are African-Americans. To date, there are over 17,030 confirmed cases in Louisiana, and 275 confirmed cases in Ouachita Parish, as reported by the Louisiana Health Department.

As more COVID-19 tests are done, more reports are surfacing that show how African-Americans are disproportionately contracting and dying from the virus compared to other races. The new statistics are in part due to many different socioeconomic factors that include still having to work during a pandemic, bad diets, and lousy healthcare options.