UPDATE: Disney has released a statement regarding the passing of Jeffrey Ghazarian, as first posted by @ScottGustin via Twitter:
“We offer our deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Ghazarian. We continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and remain in regular contact with health agencies for information and guidance.”
Disney has issued a statement:
“We offer our deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Ghazarian. We continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and remain in regular contact with health agencies for information and guidance.” https://t.co/gu0wBVJZPV
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) March 19, 2020
The original story is below:
A 34-year-old man has just passed away after being diagnosed with COVID-19. He had visited Walt Disney World on March 2.
According to TMZ, a 34-year-old man has died in California after testing positive of coronavirus just days ago, and 2 weeks after visiting Walt Disney World and Universal Studios in Florida. TMZ reports:
Jeffrey Ghazarian from Glendora, CA, died Thursday morning at a Pasadena hospital after spending 5 days hooked up to a ventilator and battling for his life … according to his family.
His sister says … “He suffered a lot and put up a good fight. We will miss our Jeff everyday but we are thankful for all the fun happy memories of the times we had together.”
Jeff’s timeline regarding his COVID-19 infection is terrifying and should be eye-opening for people of all ages. According to his family, he flew from L.A. to Orlando on March 2 for a work conference, but stayed a few extra days to visit Disney World and Universal theme parks with friends.
We’re told on March 7 he developed a cough, and the next day he coughed up blood. He flew back to LAX on March 9 … and immediately went to the ER, where he also had a high fever.The family says a chest x-ray confirmed Jeff had pneumonia, and he was tested for COVID-19 and sent home with fluids and antibiotics and instructed to self-quarantine until he got the results back.
We’re told the results came back positive on March 13, and Jeff was provided a portable oxygen meter to keep an eye on his levels … which took a turn for the worse that afternoon.
On March 14 he was taken by ambulance to the hospital and quickly transferred to the ICU when it was discovered his lungs were 60-70 percent blocked with pneumonia. Doctors decided the best path forward was to sedate and intubate, hoping a ventilator would help his lungs heal.
Sadly — and despite the family claiming he was approved for antiviral meds — he took a turn for the worse and never got the medication in time … and passed away Thursday morning.
It appears Jeffrey was an at-risk patient. He had a history of asthma and frequent bronchitis as a child, though he outgrew that. He also had beat testicular cancer back in 2016.
The CDC now says young people can also be at grave risk … and this underscores the danger.
He was 34.
RIP
It is worth noting that Ghazarian was an at-risk patient, however the CDC is now stating that young people can also be at risk, whereas previously it was believed that only the elderly were primarily at risk. This is the first case where a visitor to the parks has gotten infected with Coronavirus, but there is no established correlation between the parks and the virus at this time.
We’ll continue updating this post as more information arises.
He was on an airplane first. He could have gotten the virus from the flight. To say he got it from WDW is likely but he was in an enclosed space before he was at a huge amusement park.
So he flew sick, with a high fever AFTER the Coronavirus epidemic had started when WE ALL were told not to. He exposed countless people along the way.
I Express my sympathy for this young person. No family should have to suffer the sadness of losing one so young. Keep in mind he developed symptoms 5 days after arriving in Orlando so as a Floridian I must be concerned that he was contagious at the park but he came from California and the disease takes 2 to 14 days so it is more likely he contracted the illness prior to flying to Florida. This man’s death was tragic but his passing may help science identify more information on how this disease spread given he was in contact with specific identifiable people, (e g. The conference attendees, cast members, hotel guests. This is not a cause for panic. This a way to get more information and find better ways for others to avoid infection or at least reduce infection and further spread.
Based on the time line he would have been infected and asymptomatic when he flew from LAX to ORL on March 2nd. Which also means he infected all those people at the conference then everyone he was arround at the theme parks and hotel. Then he flew back to LAX and infected all those people on the planes and all.
First sorry for the loss. Second I find it amusing how many places this guy visited yet only one place listed in the main headline.
So we get our news from TMZ now? Totally credible source. 🙄
It was since picked up by every major news outlet…
WDW has had Covid19 since December. In 3 days upon my return from Disneyworld in late Dec i was in the hospital with pneumonia. CT scan showed Glass Nodules the “tell tale sign” as I know now for Covid19. Was a rough week since I have only a few antibiotics not allergic to and a low immune system. Been 2 weeks tryingbto confirm w CDC. Hoping I dont get it a second time.
And after coughing up blood he gets in an airplane and flies 5 hours to CA?
We were at WDW March 2-7, so I’m not a happy camper. I guess it was just a matter of time before a case developed that touched the parks in some way. My son and his girlfriend are both in entertainment there as well, and my son is at risk because of damaged immune system. Oh dear.
This is devastating! No wonder this is a crisis unlike any other in the world’s history.
So reading context, he contracted before he went- flew on the cross country flight for the conference- stayed a few extra days for Disney & Universal and displayed on 3/7- Stayed 2 more days, presumably visiting the parks, flew back across the country and then went to the hospital. prime example on why things need to be shut down
Rest in peace. So then anyone who was on the plane with him may also have the corona -19? What airline? Time and date? Flight #?
This is terrible. Prayer to his family.
Most likely scenario is he brought the virus with him from CA. All the people at the work conference he attended need to be tested. Who knows how many may have been exposed while he was in the parks. God be with his family and friends in their loss and have mercy on his soul, and be with all of us in this time of struggle.