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Critical Patient, 25, From Metuchen Can't Get Experimental Covid-19 Drug, Mom Says

UPDATE: A teacher from Ridgewood says she's living a nightmare: Her 25-year-old son is in critical condition at JFK Hospital in Edison, tested positive for COVID-19, but waits for an experimental life-saving drug.

Jack Allard, far right, with his father Andy, sister Katie and mother Genny.

Jack Allard, far right, with his father Andy, sister Katie and mother Genny.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Allard family
Jack Allard with his girlfriend, Mikaela Bradley (left), and sister, Katie.

Jack Allard with his girlfriend, Mikaela Bradley (left), and sister, Katie.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Allard family
Jack Allard with his mother Genny, father Andy and sister Katie.

Jack Allard with his mother Genny, father Andy and sister Katie.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Allard family

Jack Allard of Metuchen first became ill on March 13. His symptoms quickly worsened and he was hospitalized three days later, said his mother, Genny Allard.

He tested positive for coronavirus over the weekend and remains in critical condition on a ventilator, she said Monday.

Original COVID-19 tests were misplaced by the lab, so the 2012 Ridgewood High School graduate had to be re-swabbed, compounding the delays, his mother said.

Allard, of Ridgewood, told Daily Voice that she cannot understand how celebrities, politicians and NBA players are quickly getting COVID-19 test results, while "my son is deteriorating. He's in regulatory limbo."

The Allard family enlisted help from Congressman Josh Gottheimer, hospital administrators and even the director of the CDC to try and cut through bureaucratic red tape, she said. 

But Jack's coronavirus tests weren't processed until Saturday.

This has blocked access to remsdesivir, a drug produced by Gilead that is being studied in several large-scale clinical trials around the world.

Jack Allard, a two-time All American in lacrosse at Bates College, was in excellent health, his mother said,

He commuted into Manhattan every day for his job as an equities analyst with Bank of America, said Allard, who teaches at Bergen County Technical High School.

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