Tool fan confirms coronavirus diagnosis after attending band’s gig
The music world has been on high alert as concerts across the world have been canceled over coronavirus concerns. Now, one Tool fan has confirmed he was diagnosed with the virus less than a week after attending one of the band’s New Zealand gigs.
According to authorities, a man in his ’30s attended the Tool show at Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand on Friday, Feb. 28. Just prior to this, he had traveled to northern Italy with his female partner where there have been at least 1,694 confirmed coronavirus cases and 34 deaths across the country.
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His partner was confirmed to have the coronavirus at some point this week, and the man stated Thursday that he’s also infected, according to the Guardian. It’s unclear when the man caught the virus. However, the incubation period—or the period of time between catching the virus and showing symptoms—for COVID-19 ranges 1-14 days. The World Health Organization reports most of those who have been affected start showing symptoms in five days.
Out in support of their first album in 13 years Fear Inoculum, Tool kicked off an Australia and New Zealand tour in mid-February. The two-night gig marked their return to Auckland for the first time since Big Day Out in 2011. The diagnosed fan attended the first evening Tool played Spark Arena, which holds 12,000 people. He was in the front left-hand corner of the general admission section and is now is the fourth person to be diagnosed in New Zealand.
Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield confirmed he has been in self-isolation since Wednesday, according to The New Zealand Herald. Bloomfield also stated casual contact at the show could be in the hundreds.
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“We encourage all people in the area of the concert to be aware of the symptoms and contact the Healthline if concerned,” Bloomfield told the outlet. “The advice is that the risk is very low for all others who attended this concert.”
“There was no way of tracking the people who were in that area of the concert, they are classed as causal contacts and the advise to them is to call Healthline if they have any symptoms,” Bloomfield continued. “The people we are focused on tracking down the close contacts and health officials have been in touch with all those people.”
More on the coronavirus
On Dec. 31, 2019, several cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, China were reported to the World Health Organization. Wild animals sold at The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market were believed to be the source, so the business was closed by health authorities. Chinese scientists later suggested through a study that it was imported from elsewhere.
On Jan. 7, authorities identified it as the coronavirus or COVID-19. Four days later, the first death was confirmed in China. By Jan. 22, there are 547 confirmed cases in the country. China has since reached 80,552 confirmed cases and more than 3,000 deaths.
On Jan. 30, the first person in the United States was confirmed to be infected by person-to-person transmission in Illinois. Since then, more than 225 coronavirus cases have been confirmed across the U.S. with 12 deaths as of Thursday. Earlier today, the House passed $8 billion in emergency funding to fight the virus.
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On Feb. 24, Marilyn Manson was among the first to cancel a trip to Asia with Live Nation revealing the shock rocker’s highly-anticipated performance at Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld-Expo on March 18 was no longer happening. While neither Manson nor Live Nation released an official reason for the cancelation, it’s assumed it’s related to coronavirus concerns.
Four days later, Green Day postponed their Asian tour. Set to embark out on the Hella Mega tour in support of their latest album Father Of All…, the leg would’ve have taken them through Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong and a few other notable dates.
Since then, Avril Lavigne, Set It Off, YUNGBLUD and Slipknot have also canceled their tours to Asia. Miami’s Ultra Music Festival postponed to 2021, and a petition to cancel this month’s Austin-based SXSW continues to garner signatures as corporate sponsors and artists such as Ozzy Osbourne and Trent Reznor cancel appearances.
Read more: Disney postpones ‘Mulan’ China release date due to coronavirus concerns
Concerns over the virus have also affected the film industry. Disney made the decision to postpone the live-action Mulan release date in China after nearly 70,000 theaters were closed. The next installment in the James Bond franchise, No Time To Die, was set to open April 10 but has since shifted worldwide to November.
Currently, there isn’t a vaccine to prevent COVID-19, but the Center For Disease Control has shared some preventive measures. These include staying home when you’re sick and avoiding close contact with others who are ill. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and discard immediately.
You can get more information on the coronavirus on the CDC’s website here.
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