Ozzy Osbourne producer and former California Breed guitarist Andrew Watt has checked in to say that he’s been diagnosed with coronavirus.
Watt was behind the desk for Ozzy’s new album Ordinary Man and in a lengthy post on Instagram, he's explained how his diagnosis came about.
Watt says: “Yesterday I was given the results that I am positive for COVID-19. I wanted to tell you all about my journey getting here in an effort to bring awareness to the severity of what's happening in the world.
“Twelve days ago, early morning of March 6, I started feeling like I was hit by a bus. I couldn't move out of my bed for days and started to run a fever. I was seen by a doctor at my house who told me I am positive for the regular flu and there's no way I could have COVID-19 as I haven't left the country and all I do is go to the studio and go straight home.
“I told all my friends I had been working with and anyone close to me that I'm laid out with the flu and quarantined myself. None of them even had a sniffle. I was put on tamiflu and constant Tylenol to fight the fever, but the chills, sweats and fevers didn’t stop. I started to become delusional and then began the dry cough.
“I immediately rushed to the emergency room and begged to be tested for COVID-19 as this 'flu' was not subsiding. I was turned down for the test because of federal regulations. I begged and pleaded to be evaluated and finally was given a chest x-ray, the results of which were viral pneumonia, but still, no test. A private doctor was finally able to test me himself and yesterday afternoon it came back positive for COVID-19.”
Watt says that at the moment, his fever has started to improve and his appetite has started to return, but cautions: “It is very hard for me to breathe as a result of this pneumonia. I am laid out in bed chugging Gatorade and using an oxygen machine to give my lungs as much relief as possible.
"I am 29 years old, I am a healthy young man and I am going to get through this no matter what. I am going to make a full recovery but there are so many people in my life and in the world that could possibly not get through this due to their age and/or a compromised immune system. This is why I am writing this post.
"I can't stress this enough: This is not a joke. Stay inside, stay sanitised. Please stop everything and take care of yourselves and the people you love around you, until we are all through this.
"To have the mentality, ‘I’m young this can't affect me' is just straight up stupid and so dangerous to everyone around you. Social distancing is to protect someone's mom and dad, someone's grandmother... it's not about you. It's about everyone together fighting this as a team. Stay safe. Now more than ever.”
The spread of coronavirus around the world has played havoc in the music industry, with shows, tours and festivals either postponed or cancelled.
Keep up to date with all the latest news on tour and show postponements and cancellations due to coronavirus on Louder’s dedicated hub page. This will be updated regularly with news as we get it.
The World Health Organisation have posted public advice in light of the spread of the virus which covers basic protective measures.
