53 year old Jimmy Johnson of Omaha lost his life within 48 hours of testing positive for COVID-19. "When I think of how fast from him not feeling well, showing symptoms, coughing, and nauseous, and no appetite, and the pain,” Tim Clark, Johnson’s uncle, told 6 News. “Saying I need to go to the emergency.”
That's where Johnson was tested for COVID-19 and then sent home. “The next day I called him and said, ‘hey, you’re positive, you’ve tested positive for COVID-19’ the next day he passed away,” Clark said outside Johnson’s funeral.
Only immediate family was allowed inside for the service, everyone else streamed it outside the church parking lot.
He left behind a wife and three children. “I was just going to go over to their house and hang out over there and mom said, ‘you probably shouldn’t’ because he wasn’t feeling too well’,” said Johnson’s son, Justin.
Shortly before his father’s death, Justin had a son of his own. “It really hurt because that’s the last person I thought would leave my life, especially after just having a son,” Justin told 6 News.
The family is determined to shine a light on this vulnerable community. In Douglas County, African Americans account for 20 percent of the COVID-19 deaths, yet only make up 11 percent of the population.
“We just want to send a message that from our governor to our local entities, people that have the power to help provide resources and tools to help fight this,” Clark told 6 News.
COVID-19 testing is available to the public in North Omaha. Charles Drew Health Center is encouraging people to call for an appointment if you’re symptomatic or may have been exposed to the virus. 402-451-3553