Doctor who treated hundreds of coronavirus patients dies of disease after worried husband begged him to stay home
A HEROIC ICU doctor has died from coronavirus after battling to save hundreds of patients - despite his husband's pleas that he stay home.
Dr Joseph Costa was only 56 when he died on Saturday following complications from the virus.
The Baltimore physician passed away surrounded by about 20 of his colleagues and while in the arms of his tearful husband, David Hart.
He told that he pleaded with his partner to stay away from the hospital, with Joseph vulnerable due to a rare autoimmune disorder.
"I begged him not to go to work," David said, but his brave husband felt it was important to lead his staff by continuing to work on the front lines.
Both Joseph and David got sick with COVID-19 in late June, the Washington Post reported.
David eventually recovered, but Joseph ended up in the hospital on a ventilator and later in a coma.
His hospital, the Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, shared an emotional tribute on .
It read: "Joe was more than a trusted colleague; he was also a true friend to many.
"He dedicated his life and career to caring for the sickest patients.
"And when the global pandemic came down upon us, Joe selflessly continued his work on the front lines — deeply committed to serving our patients and our City during this time of great need.
"His memory will live on as an example to us all."
Joseph first began working at Mercy Medical Center in 1997 and became chief of critical care in 2005.
David said that his husband's death emphasises the need to follow public health coronavirus recommendations - and he hit out at those who refuse to wear face coverings.
He said: "When you see people without masks, you think, 'Are you out of your mind?'
"This disease will take you out in a heartbeat."
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The Centers for Disease Control says that everyone should wear a face-covering in public and keep six feet from others.
Maryland has had 85,524 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19, with 648 in the past 24 hours, according to from the state's department of health.
America has more than 4 million reported cases of COVID-19 so far, with over 150,000 deaths.
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