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Pipersburg's wife is in mourning but outraged at the manner in which health workers treated her husband's case, she isn't mourning in silence, and in a long-form Facebook Post, this Weekend Maria-Estella Recinos recounted the last days of her husband's life and the ordeal she went through trying to get him adequate care for his frightening symptoms that were, until far too late, flat out dismissed.

Cherisse Halsall reporting
This is the makeshift isolation ward at the Western Regional hospital where COVID-19 patient #4 Hubert Pipersburgh was admitted on March 31st.

According to a Facebook post by his wife Maria-Estella Recinos, she believes her husband was put there because no one was willing to attend to him. She claims it "didn't even have a bathroom."

Pipersbugh had started with a sore throat and dry cough on March 21st and endured almost a week's worth of highs and lows with those symptoms. Five days later more serious symptoms appeared, including fevers that went as high as 103 degrees, pain, and trouble breathing.

On March 27th - 6 days after his first symptoms, Pipersburgh's wife called Dr. Manzanero - presumably DHS Marvin Manzanero, to request a test. She says that after a series of questions they were told that Pipersburgh did not qualify to have tests done.

Another three days passed by and the couple sought second opinions at La Loma Luz and a local clinic. No health professional they'd seen believed the symptoms were linked to Coronavirus; they medicated him for fever and respiratory issues, and Pipersburgh went home.

Last Tuesday they headed back to Godoy's for more tests but Maria Estella says Pipersbugh struggled to make it from the car into the clinic at the time she thought he was having a heart attack.

That's when he was referred to the Western Regional on Tuesday, March 31st, to get a chest X-ray. Unbeknownst to the couple, Pipersburgh had developed Pneumonia.

Pipersburg would spend three days in Belmopan housed in that makeshift isolation center, and according to his wife "without any updates, or proper care."

As she put it, quote, "We said HERE WE ARE, HE IS SICK and no one paid us mind. We asked for a test and they refused, why?"

Finally, he was swabbed on the night he arrived in Belmopan, Tuesday, March 31st and in the early morning of April 3rd, Pipersburgh received a positive coronavirus diagnosis. 16 hours later, he had to be moved to the KHMH's COVID isolation unit with acute respiratory issues.

Shortly before his arrival, his doctors photographed in heroic stances and a statement from the KHMH describing the months of preparation that had led to the admittance of the man who became the COVID-19 unit's first critical care patient. He would also become its first casualty.

He was placed on a ventilator in an induced coma, from which he never awoke

55-year-old Hubert Pipersburgh died on Sunday, April 5th

His wife and children are left to mourn and wonder if his life could have been saved by more decisive actions on the part of his health care providers and the government of Belize.

In her post, Reconis asks, "What if Dr. Manzanero had conceded for a test to be done on him on Friday the 27th? Maybe he would have received treatment and would be safe. How can he make such a decision when someone has the majority of the symptoms?"

She concludes, with alarm, quote, "Western Regional is not ready to handle any incoming patients, their staff is not ready!!"

Responding to Recinos via press release this morning the Government of Belize acknowledged their awareness of her social media post while reiterating its deepest condolences to her family.

The Government assured the Pipersburgh and Recinos family as well as the public that all complaints and criticisms regarding COVID-19 in Belize are taken very seriously.

They say that Ms. Recinos' report and any information that can assist in ensuring that Belize's response demonstrates respect and care for citizens are welcome and appreciated. Consequently, an investigation of medical care given to Mr. Pipersburgh has already begun.