Ghost fan dies from coronavirus two weeks after attending band’s show
Mexico has officially had its first death due to the coronavirus. The dangerous and scary thing is that the deceased man believed he contracted it while attending a Ghost concert earlier this month.
AltPress reported about the significance of the show on March 4. Not only was it Ghost’s only scheduled show of 2020, but it also saw Cardinal Copia anointed to Papa Emeritus IV.
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Coronavirus has been taking the world by storm. Just in the past two weeks, the United States has seen significant closures, event bans, canceled tours and gathering regulations put in place to combat the spread. According to the CDC, as of March 19, the U.S. has had 150 coronavirus deaths.
Well, Mexico just had it first. This isn’t the first time someone who attended a large concert had coronavirus either. Earlier this month, a Tool fan who attended a New Zealand show also tested positive for COVID-19.
The deceased was a 41-year-old man with an underlying condition of diabetes. He went to the hospital on March 9 for coronavirus symptoms. He remained there until Mexico’s Secretary of Health announced his passing on March 19.
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The dangerous part of this is the concert he attended on March 3. The Ghost crowed totaled around 50,000 fans. It is there we the man believed he contracted the virus. In fact, a 40-year-old man who was also at the concert tested positive for COVID-19.
The Ghost concert was exactly what not to do in terms of coronavirus prevention. By March 3, Mexico had already reported five cases of COVID-19. The government has received much criticism for its lack of restrictions regarding public events. Last weekend, the two-day Vive Latino festival in Mexico City drew over 65,000 people to one place.
Given the intensity of Ghost’s performances, it is more than likely the droplets containing the coronavirus were present and that more than two people contracted the virus while attending.
We hope the best for Mexico in this critical time.
More Ghost
Swedish rock band Ghost officially gave a fond farewell to Cardinal Copia. Copia was the latest persona of Ghost’s mastermind Tobias Forge.
At their final show of the Prequelle tour, Copia was surrounded by the Sisters of Sin and anointed to become Papa Emeritus IV. Check out some videos below.
Commanding legions of fans under the joyous guise of an elaborate Satanic church, Ghost seemingly have the power to manifest any whim that bandleader/visionary Forge can conjure.
Papa Emeritus debuted alongside the release of Ghost’s first album Opus Eponymous in 2010. Since then, each successive Ghost album has promoted a new character to fulfill Papa Emeritus’ roles. Pape Emeritus 0 was the most recent iteration and was portrayed as an older man with a walker and oxygen tank. Following that, in 2018 Cardinal Copia was revealed who would become the vocalist for Ghost.
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On March 3, Ghost officially anointed Copia to the position of Papa Emeritus IV.
The switch happened mid-set at their final show of 2020 in Mexico City. During the saxophone solo in “Miasma,” Papa Nihil (an ancestor to the other Papas) suddenly died. Cardinal Copia walked out onstage to “Arrival” by Swedish pop group ABBA. First, the Sisters of Sin surrounded him. After a couple of minutes, he reemerged as the beautifully robed Papa Emeritus IV. Following the show, Ghost took to social media to thank Mexico City for such a warm welcome to the new frontman.
Gracias México City for your hospitality and warmth. We couldn’t pick a better place to witness the anointment of Cardinal Copia to Papa Emeritus IV. Papa and the ghouls are incredibly thankful for all your wonderful gifts. Looking forward to seeing all of you in 2021.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9TS1liDPZW/?utm_source=ig_embed
Watch a fan-video of the official transformation below.
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Unfortunately, that was almost 100% Ghost’s final show of 2020. Forge previously spoke with Mike Sorensen at the Herald-Whig about 2020 plans.
“There will be very little touring. To be specific, it’s going to be absolutely zero touring in 2020,” Forge says. “The year is going to be spent making a new record, a new record that will come out in 2021, the beginning of 2021, and then we’re looking at eighteen months of touring again. Next year is going to be, at least from a touring point of view, off.”
We’re sure it will take some time until we fully know how this Papa Emeritus will behave, but judging by the aesthetic concept, we have a lot to look forward to with Ghost’s next album.
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