An 82-year-old cancer survivor died from COVID-19 after catching the virus from a friend who allegedly hid their infection so they could all get together and play cards, her family alleges.
Barb Bartolovich, of Ohio, was vaccinated against the virus and took strict safety precautions, including only socializing with people who were also vaccinated.
Her granddaughter, Lauren Nash, of Michigan, claims Bartolovich decided to attend a card game after all invitees claimed to be vaccinated. However, one attendee allegedly failed to disclose were sick with COVID.
'Somebody decided that testing positive for COVID is something they can hide,' Nash told WXYZ. 'The only way we found out is that the person owned up after Nana got sick.'
Now, in wake of her death, Nash is begging others be safer, especially as the Omicron variant continues to surge across the nation.
Barb Bartolovich, 82, (left) died on Dec. 21 after she contracted COVID-19 from a friend who hid their infection, according to her granddaughter Lauren Nash (right)
She died at Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Health Center in Boardman, Ohio (pictured) after having been hospitalized and ventilated.
Bartolovich passed away on December 21 at Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Health Center in Boardman, Ohio, after having been hospitalized and ventilated.
Although she had been vaccinated, Bartolovich, a blood cancer survivor, had a weakened immune system.
Her granddaughter is upset that Bartolovich's friend - whose identity she is not revealing out of respect for their privacy - would take the risk of spreading a 'proven deadly virus' just to play a game of cards.
'I am just horrified at where we are and what is going on, that we are not taking into account people's lives,' Nash said.
Nash is asking everyone to be more aware about their role in stopping the spread.
Now, in wake of her death, Nash is begging others be safer, especially as the Omicron variant continues to surge: 'It is not worth it. It is not worth knowing you hurt someone, potentially hurt someone, or killed someone because you want to go out and have fun.'
Bartolovich (right, pictured with Nash on her left) was vaccinated against the virus and took strict safety precautions, including only socializing with people who were also vaccinated
She urges anyone with symptoms or who has tested positive for COVID to 'avoid others out of love'.
'It is not worth it. It is not worth knowing you hurt someone, potentially hurt someone, or killed someone because you want to go out and have fun.'
Bartolovich, described as a 'little firecracker,' leaves behind four children, their spouses, ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, according to her obituary.
Family was very important to her and she was an active member of her church.
Her loved ones says she always acted as a support system, taught her children and grandchildren many lessons and that 'to know her was to love her and to be loved by her was the most special feeling in the world'.
'She was taken too soon,' Nash said. 'She was just everything to everyone. As everyone says, if you knew Barb, you were loved.'
Bartolovich (front, pictured with loved ones), described as a 'little firecracker,' leaves behind four children, their spouses, ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren
Bartolovich's passing comes as Ohio - and the rest of the US - experienced a surge in COVID cases and deaths.
Ohio set a new record for daily cases on New Year's Eve, reporting 20,598 cases.
The state has averaged 11,797 cases per day over the last 21 days, according to the state health department.
Ohio also reported 667 virus-related deaths on Friday, which was approximately 10 percent higher than any other state, per Johns Hopkins University data.
The surge comes as many states are reporting all-time highs for positive COVID cases amid the spread of the Omicron variant.
The latest figures from Johns Hopkins published Sunday show 115,984 new cases and 280 deaths in the last 24 hours, a lull on previous days caused by slower weekend reporting of figures.
The US reached a seven-day average of 402,998 cases on Sunday.
In a study by Columbia University, researchers speculated that the Omicron-fueled cases in the US may reach the peak by January 9, which would see from 2.5 million cases to 5.4 million cases per week.
As the potential peak nears, health experts continue to push Americans to take precautions and get their COVID shots.
About 62 percent of the US is fully vaccinated, with 73 percent having received their first dose, according to the New York Times.
In addition, about 68.8 million of the fully vaccinated have also received a third dose, or a booster shot, since August 13, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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