A Nigerian, Bassey Offiong, has died of coronavirus in the United States.
The Western Michigan University student from Detroit died Saturday after contracting the virus.
The 25-year-old was to graduate with a chemical engineering degree in a few weeks, Detroit News reports.
According to her sister, Asari Offiong, Bassey told her he was turned down several times for the coronavirus test in the Kalamazoo area while living off-campus despite having fever, fatigue and shortness of breath.
She said: “I told him to ask them to test him. He said they refused to test him.”
Offiong refused to disclose the locations where he was denied a test but said he had no known prior health issues.
She said one medical staffer told him he had bronchitis.
Bassey was hospitalised at Beaumont in Royal Oak and spent the last week on a ventilator in their intensive care unit.
The deceased was a member of the Christ the King Miracle Church in Redford Township.
He had always dreamt of starting his own organic makeup line with Loreal that would enhance women’s beauty, his sister said.
He graduated from Renaissance High School in Detroit.
In a statement, Western Michigan University President, Edward Montgomery, said Bassey had “enormous potential.”
“On behalf of the entire Bronco community, I want to extend my deepest condolences to his entire family, including his sister, Asari, who has been generous in communicating with us regularly,” he said.
Three students had tested positive for the virus, university officials announced Friday.
