December 30, 2020, 11:18 am
Louisiana Congressman-elect Luke Letlow has died of complications related to COVID-19 after weeks of battling the illness and days before he was to take office after winning his election in November. He was only 41 and is survived by his wife and two children.
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Letlow was hospitalized a day after his diagnosis on December 18 and was eventually transferred to intensive care. In spite of the efforts of two hospitals, he passed away on Tuesday, December 29.
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Though his death is a tragedy for his loved ones, many are pointing out that it was also avoidable. Letlow, along with most of his fellow Republicans, pushed hard to “open our economy” after many local governments issued stay-at-home orders in the early days of the pandemic.
At the same time, numerous photos have been found on Letlow’s social media accounts showing him campaigning without wearing a mask, either indoors or outside but very close to numerous other maskless individuals. All of these posts earned comments that were asking, warning, or even begging Letlow to follow the recommended precautions.
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Wow. You gotta wear a mask, man. Don’t have massless events like this. Covid is in rural areas as well.
— Brian DeLancey
(@briandelancey) December 23, 2020
After hitting densely-populated urban areas first, the latest surge in the COVID-19 pandemic has indeed hit rural areas hard. With fewer and smaller facilities, Louisiana hospitals have been feeling the pressure as fears mount that they will run out of beds in the ICU.
Letlow is the first federal member of congress to die of COVID-19, though he was far from the first to test positive. Political activist and former presidential candidate Herman Cain died from complications caused by the virus in July. He had also posted statements on his social media accounts downplaying the pandemic before his death.
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Letlow’s family has asked for privacy during this difficult time via a spokesperson. Any funeral or memorial announcements will be made at a later time. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also released a statement lamenting the Congressman-elect’s passing.
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“As the House grieves Congressman-elect Letlow’s passing, our sorrow is compounded by the grief of so many other families who have also suffered lives cut short by this terrible virus,” she said. “May it be a comfort to Luke’s wife Julia and their children Jeremiah and Jacqueline that so many mourn their loss and are praying for them at this sad time.”
*First Published: December 30, 2020, 11:18 am
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