Coronavirus: five members of same family in St Louis test positive for virus

‘I did not expect myself to test positive or to have some of these symptoms, but it can happen to anybody’

Five members of one Missouri family have tested positive for coronavirus and have warned: “It can happen to anybody.”

Jane Weinhaus, 63, a teacher in St Louis County, was thought to be the first of the family to have contracted the disease, according to a report by NBC affiliate KSDK.

“My mom just developed a cough,” her 32-year-old son Ryan Weinhaus told NBC News. “Just a normal cough.”

Since then, four other members of her family — her husband, two adult children and a daughter-in-law — have all tested positive for Covid-19 the reports said.

“I did not expect myself to test positive or to have some of these symptoms, but it can happen to anybody,” Mr Weinhause told KSDK. “It’s not just elderly individuals.”

Ms Weinhaus is a teacher at Temple Israel’s Deutsch Early Childhood Centre where other teachers and one parent tested positive for the virus.

She spent days on a ventilator at Missouri Baptist Hospital, but was taken off the ventilator on Monday, KSDK said.

Ms Weinhaus’ other son also developed symptoms, including fever, aches, shortness of breath and a cough but is now said to be recovering.

Ryan Weinhaus and his wife developed similar symptoms and are recovering from the disease, according to NBC News.

Ms Weinhaus’ husband, Michael Weinhaus, who remains in intensive care in hospital, told the broadcaster that he believes it is important to speak out and warn people about the dangers of the virus.

Ryan Weinhaus echoed the same message when speaking about the importance of preventing the spread of the disease to KSDK.

“It’s not even so much about you protecting yourself, but it’s you protecting people on the outside as well,” Ryan said. “So be smart. Stay stay in your house. You know, follow suit.”