Five children orphaned as coronavirus claims both parents' lives

Five children in the US have been left orphaned after coronavirus claimed the lives of both of their parents just one day apart.

Karina Bonilla, 38, and her husband Humberto Ruelas-Rivas, 60, have five children aged between two and 17 and were raising their family in Los Angeles when the coronavirus pandemic hit.

It's believed Bonilla contracted the virus first, supposedly picking it up from a fruit vendor she worked for and then passing it to her husband.

On Sunday, Ruelas-Rivas passed away as a result of COVID-19, his wife dying just one day later on the Monday.

They leave behind their five underage children, as well as Ruelas-Rivas' two elder daughters from a previous relationship.

One of his daughters, Marie Ruelas, 35, is now fighting for custody of her siblings "in the memory of her father".

"Within six days, I lost my father. And within eight hours, I lost my stepmother. And now I have five kids," she told radio station KTLA.

"Even though they're deceased, the virus is still active in their bodies so you can't touch the body. I hope this story doesn't repeat again. It's devastating."

It also meant that she was never able to say a final goodbye to her father before he died.

Ruelas, who is engaged, has no children of her own and admitted it will be a "struggle" to care for her five siblings following the death of her father and stepmother.

She is also looking after her 30-year-old sister who has also been hospitalised with COVID-19 and suffered a stroke.

While many nations around the world are relaxing coronavirus restrictions, the virus is still a danger.

Restrictions in Australia have been steadily lifting, but people are still advised to practice social distancing and regularly wash and sanitise their hands.