"My Life Ruined by COVID-19, China Must Compensate"... South American Youth Files Lawsuit Against China

A Father of Four... Lost His Job Due to COVID-19

Bergali hospitalized for treatment after being infected with COVID-19 / Photo by infobae

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Yeeun] A man in Argentina has filed a lawsuit seeking damages against China and the World Health Organization (WHO), claiming that COVID-19 ruined his life.

According to local media on the 26th (local time), Matias Vergali (39), who lives in Ramos Mejia, Buenos Aires Province, revealed how his life completely changed after contracting COVID-19 and demanded $200,000 (approximately 233.84 million KRW) in damages from China and the WHO.

He, a father of four, supported his family working as a waiter at a hotel, but lost his job of four years when the hotel closed due to financial difficulties at the end of last year. Afterwards, to make a living, he hastily purchased a car on installment and worked as an Uber taxi driver for 16 hours a day, but lost his job again after contracting COVID-19 in March.

At that time, Argentina's healthcare system collapsed due to COVID-19, and he could not receive any help. He said, "I tried to get hospitalized, but no one helped me at the hospital. I thought it was better to die at home than to end my life alone there."

Chinese President Xi Jinping. /Photo by Yonhap News

He recently met Patricio Poplavsky, founder and CEO of the law firm 'Poplavsky International Law Office,' which represents 3,000 COVID-19 victims, as an Uber customer and decided to file a damage claim against China and the WHO.

He asserted, "If China, which was negligent in the initial response, has even minimal responsibility, it must compensate for the damages."

Meanwhile, among the COVID-19 victims proceeding with the lawsuit alongside Poplavsky, relatives of deceased victims are reportedly seeking $1 million in damages, severe patients between $500,000 and $700,000, and those with mild symptoms $200,000.