Aussie influencer spreads Delta strain after throwing party
An Aussie influencer has reportedly admitted to being a superspreader of the Delta coronavirus variant after he threw a party while he was infected with coronavirus.
Anthony Hess did not know he had the Delta strain when he organised the soiree. It is believed he may have transmitted the virus to at least 60 people.
Hess, who has been previously linked to MAFS star Stacey Hampton, has been in Los Angeles since last year.
According to the Daily Mail, he had been fully vaccinated and enjoying the freedoms in the US as it eases its restrictions.
However despite the vaccination, Hess still contracted the Delta variant of the coronavirus.
In the wake of discovering he was infected during the weekend party on July 9 to July 11, Hess told the publication he had no idea and only developed symptoms during the middle of last week.
“Honestly, I have no idea how many people I infected, I came into contact with so many it could be hundreds,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
“I feel so guilty, I’ve had dozens of friends message me saying they have symptoms, but I’m vaccinated and had no idea I had Covid.”
He added he had been fully vaccinated against the virus after receiving the Moderna jab, which is yet to be approved in Australia.
After testing positive for the virus, Hess told the Daily Mail he struggled to get out of bed.
"I basically slept for four days straight without eating, I’m sweating so bad, felt like I was dying and lost so much weight," he said.
He also displayed common symptoms such as a sore throat, cough, shortness of breath and a blocked nose.
Influencer's Covid warning to Aussies
Hess shared his story to warn people to take coronavirus seriously, especially in Australia where three states are in lockdown and only about 11 per cent of the total population are fully vaccinated.
"It just goes to show how easily people can spread the Delta strain without knowing," he told the Daily Mail.
"Everyone in Australia thinks it's a joke, it’s not. LA is putting restrictions back on. The virus is spreading so fast, people are dying.
"I didn't take it seriously either, until it happened to me. In Australia no one knows anyone who's had it."
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The virus is currently rife in NSW, with the state reporting 124 new cases on Thursday.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned that number would likely continue to surge in the coming days and said restrictions in some form would remain in place until the majority of the state was fully vaccinated.
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