COVID-19 Claims 5-Year-Old Beauty

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Published 04/21/2020 | Reading Time 1 min 51 sec 

A 5-year-old is the youngest victim of the coronavirus. Skylar Herbert died Sunday at Beaumont Royal Oak Hospital a month after contracting the virus. She spent the last two-weeks strapped to a ventilator.

Beaumont Hospital released a statement saying, “The loss of a child, at any time, under any circumstances, is a tragedy. We are heartbroken that COVID-19 has taken the life of a child. We extend our deepest sympathy to Skylar’s family and all others who have lost a loved one to this virus.”

Both of the little girl’s parents are first responders: her mother, a Detroit Police officer, her father, a firefighter for the City if Detriot.

Detroit is one of the hardest-hit cities by COVID-19, disproportionately affecting the city’s Black community. While representing 14% of Michigan’s population, Blacks accounted for 33% of viral infections.

According to the Michigan Health Department website, 7,736 people tested positive and 641 deaths.

“She was a beautiful spirit, she was friendly, she was loving, she was caring, she was funny. Just a happy 5-year-old,” Herbert said. “She was a beautiful little girl. She lived her life. She lived her 5-years. You knew she lived a great life in those 5-years,” Skylar’s mother said, adding, “This is a hurtful feeling that I don’t want any other family to have to experience. This virus doesn’t care what age you are, what nationality you are, what political preference you have. It’s serious, and it will devastate you.”