More than a dozen or 15 members of a Texas family tested positive for COVID-19 after they attended a small birthday party. Three members were reported to have fallen ill first.

Birthday
Unsplash/ Adi Goldstein

A family in Texas gathered on Nov. 1 to celebrate the birthday of one of their members. It was an informal celebration intended only for the members.

However, the party turned into a nightmare days after 12 of those who attended tested positive for the virus while three other members have fallen ill.

Alexa Aragonez, who did not attend her cousin's party but did drop off her 57-year-old mother at the gathering, shared the news to outlet WFAA, "The entire family decided, 'OK, because a few of us are feeling ill, let's all get tested.' A total of 15 tested positive."

It was also found out that three other family members who did not attend the casual and informal birthday party tested positive for the party.

This means that get the virus from their family members who attended the party. Two children and Alexa's mother also tested positive for the virus.

Her mother Enriqueta Aragonez recorded a video on her phone while she was in a hospital bed and pleaded, "I went to my nephew's house and loved seeing my family, but now I'm fighting against COVID-19. Please protect yourself." She said this to tell everyone to be vigilant.

Read also: CDC Finds Most COVID-19 Infections Spread Through Asymptomatic People

Meanwhile, the City of Arlington posted the video on their official social media account and wrote, "An #ArlingtonTX family recently experienced an outbreak of #COVID19 after attending a large family gathering. Please watch this video message and do your part to reduce the spread of the virus this holiday season."

Alexa also said that her 57-year-old mother was the only family member who was hospitalized and it frightened the rest of them.

She shared that her mother battled 103 degrees of fever for a couple of days before she was diagnosed with pneumonia from the COVID infection.

"Her heart rate was at 160 at rest. Seeing someone as strong and loving and as joyous as my mother go through that was a shock and it was excruciating. In front of her face we were really strong, behind closed doors we cried every day until she came home."

The Aragonez family has deep roots in North Texas and most of their family members lived in Arlington. Additionally, Alexa and her sister worked for the City of Arlington. Alexa underwent also into COVID-19 test and luckily she tested negative for the virus.

Following the virus outbreak in the family, they asked the city officisls to share the video on social media that featured different members in their family who tested positive for the virus.

The family shared their frightening experience. They also asked the people to take the virus seriously and to stay at home.

Alexa also admitted in the recorded video they felt guilty about the gathering. She also warned other families who are planning to gather for Thanksgiving to think before following through with a planned gathering.