
Jeffrey Ghazarian, 34, died on Thursday morning, days after testing positive for COVID-19

A 34-year-old California man has died days after testing positive for COVID-19, marking one of the youngest known fatalities for the deadly strain gripping the nation.

Jeffrey Ghazarian, of Glendora, passed away on Thursday morning at a hospital in Pasadena, where he'd been hooked up for a ventilator and fighting for his life for the past five days.

While the coronavirus fatality rate is relatively low among most people Ghazarian's age, he appeared to have been at higher risk because of his history of asthma and bronchitis as a child, and the fact that he beat testicular cancer back in 2016.

Ghazarian's family said he had recently taken a trip to Orlando for a conference on March 2 and stayed a few extra days to visit Walt Disney World and Universal Studios with friends.

Disney finally shuttered its flagship Florida theme park resort on Sunday night as coronavirus fears have prompted millions across the country to avoid large crowds where the infection can spread rapidly.

The company came under fire for holding a 'farewell celebration' in the hours before it closed - with Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of Walt Disney Co's co-founder Roy Disney, among the critics slamming the event as reckless and irresponsible.

Photos taken on Monday show the park - the most-visited in the world - eerily deserted.

Ghazarian's family said he had recently taken a trip to Orlando for a conference on March 2 and stayed a few extra days to visit Walt Disney World (pictured) and Universal Studios theme parks. The entrance to Disney's Magic Kingdom is seen empty on Monday, hours after it was finally shuttered due to coronavirus fears

Disney came under fire for holding a 'farewell celebration' in the hours before it closed on Sunday (pictured)

Relatives told TMZ Ghazarian developed a cough on March 7, which escalated to the point that he was coughing up blood hours later.

He flew back to Los Angeles on March 9 and immediately when to the ER, where he was found to also be suffering from a high fever.

Ghazarian appeared to be at higher risk of coronavirus complications because of his history of asthma and bronchitis as a child, and the fact that he beat testicular cancer back in 2016. He is seen undergoing cancer treatments in the Facebook photo above

Ghazarian was tested for COVID-19 after a chest X-ray confirmed that he had contracted pneumonia - as many other coronavirus patients have.

Doctors prescribed him fluids and antibiotics and sent him home to self-quarantine until the results came back positive on March 13.

He was again sent back home, this time armed with a portable oxygen meter.

His oxygen levels plummeted hours later before he was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where it was discovered his lungs were 60 to 70 percent blocked by the pneumonia.

Doctors then placed Ghazarian in a medically-induced coma and put him on a ventilator to give his lungs time to heal.

His family claims he was approved for anti-viral medication but he didn't get it in time and his condition took a sharp turn for the worst this morning.

'He suffered a lot and put up a good fight,' Ghazarian's sister told TMZ.

'We will miss our Jeff everyday but we are thankful for all the fun happy memories of the times we had together.'

The 34-year-old's death came as:

The number of coronavirus cases in the US surpassed 14,000 on Thursday, including 211 deaths

Alarming CDC data indicated young people who contract COVID-19 have a higher risk of contracting coronavirus than previously thought

The State Department warned Americans abroad they would not be able to count on the US government to help them get home if global travel shuts down

Bank of America's chief US economist said that the country is officially in a coronavirus recession

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell unveiled the details of Republicans' $1trillion stimulus package

US stocks fell sharply but then rallied to close up 180 points for the session

Hospitals across the country are scrambling to find a solution for a global shortage in ventilators

Ghazarian's sister told TMZ: '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'

The number of coronavirus cases in the US has dramatically increased in the last two weeks

In the early stages of the outbreak, the CDC held that most younger American adults were not likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19.

But a new report released Wednesday found that the risk was much higher than previously thought.

Although those who are oldest, aged 80 and above, have the greatest risk of dying, a sizeable portion of those hospitalized were younger, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Among 508 patients known to have been hospitalized between February 12 and March 16, 38 percent were between ages 20 and 54.

And roughly 47 percent of 121 patients taken to intensive care units were under age age 65, the CDC found.

But older people were far more likely to die from the disease once in hospital - with almost three quarters of deaths occurring in those aged over 65.

Researchers found that 20 percent of those hospitalized and 12 percent of those in intensive care were ages 20 to 44, essentially the millennial generation.

'I think everyone should be paying attention to this,' Dr Stephen Morse, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, who was not involved in the report, told The New York Times.

'It's not just going to be the elderly. There will be people age 20 and up. They do have to be careful, even if they think that they're young and healthy.'

Of the 44 people who deaths were discussed in the report, 20 were between ages 65 to 84 and 12 were aged 85 or older.

Nine deaths among adults age 20 to 64 and none were reported in those aged 19 or younger.

A new CDC report found that between February 12 and March 16, 38 percent of people hospitalized with coronavirus in the US were between ages 20 and 54. The graph above shows the risk of being hospitalized (light red bar), ending up in intensive care (mid-red bar) and dying from the virus (dark red bar) by age

President Donald Trump's messaging has shifted in recent days, from comparing the virus to the seasonal flu to telling young people that they're not 'invincible.'

'We don't want [young people] gathering, and I see they do gather, including on beaches, including in restaurants,' he said during Wednesday's White House briefing.

'They're feeling invincible...but they don't realize that they can be carrying lots of bad things home to grandmother and grandfather and even their parents. So we want them to heed the advice. We mean the advice. And I think it's getting through.'

At the same briefing, Dr Deborah Birx, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, said she is worried about young people becoming seriously ill.

'There are concerning reports coming out of France and Italy about some young people getting seriously ill in ICUs,' she said.

'We think part of this is people heeded the early data coming out of China and coming out of South Korea that the elderly or those with preexisting medical conditions were at particular risk.

'It may have been that the millennial generation, our largest generation, our future generation that will carry us through for the next multiple decades, there may be disproportional infections among that group.'

Surgeon General appeals to Kylie Jenner to tell her fans to stay indoors as millennials and Gen Z are slammed for not following coronavirus advice

The Surgeon General appealed to Kylie Jenner on Thursday morning to tell her millennial and Gen Z followers to stay at home as the country frantically tries to fight coronavirus.

In an appearance on Good Morning America, Surgeon General Jerome Adams said the country needed social media influencers like Jenner to use their platforms to get through to young people who are not all heeding government advice.

'I have a 15 and 14 year old and the more I tell them not to do something, the more they want to do it,' Adams said.

'What I really think we need to do was get our influencers - Kevin Durant, Donavan Mitchell, we need to get Kylie Jenner and social media influencers out there, in helping folks understand: this is serious - people are dying out there.

'We have data emerging from Italy that suggests young people may be at higher risk than we previously thought. But think about your grandfather, the fact you're spreading disease that could ultimately be what kills them.'

Adams' warning came after Wednesday's CDC report challenged the previously held notion many young people relied on to not worry about the virus - that they were immune to it and that it only seriously affected the old and sickly.

It also followed the emergence of disturbing photographs and videos of teenagers and young adults flocking to the beaches of Florida for Spring Break, gathering in groups and twerking despite the entire world being on the brink of shut-down and thousands dying with no cure on the horizon.

Surgeon General Jerome Adams has pleaded with stars like Kylie Jenner to use their vast social media platforms to tell young people to stay at home and quarantine to fight the spread of coronavirus

Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams on millennials and the coronavirus: “We need to get our social media influencers out there and helping folks understand that look this is serious.” https://t.co/M1e2wFmU6F pic.twitter.com/FNjZB12mKK — Good Morning America (@GMA) March 19, 2020

Scores of young people were seen at the beaches of Florida this week to celebrate Spring Break despite repeated advice to stay away from each other

Jenner has been self-quarantining for eight days and has already appealed to her 166million Instagram followers to do the same, as have countless other public figures and celebrities.

On Wednesday, she uploaded an Instagram story with the warning: 'Another daily reminder to take this social distancing serious and self-quarantine.'

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant has tested positive for the virus, along with three of his teammates, as has Utah Jazz player Donovan Mitchell.

Despite them repeatedly telling their fans to stay at home and socially distance themselves, thousands are still going out.

In Florida, Spring Breakers had to be broken up by police this week. It not only puts them and their families at risk, but also the first responders whose time could be used elsewhere.

The Surgeon General said on Thursday that America is trying to avoid becoming Italy, where the 'worst case scenario' is playing out with the entire country now in its 10th day of lockdown.

Hospitals are bursting at the seams with patients and the death toll - now more than 2,000 - keeps increasing.

Harrowing video footage of army trucks transporting the bodies of the dead out of one town is putting into stark reality how lethal the virus us.

The United States is only around 11 days behind Italy in the growth of new cases and officials are desperate to avoid a similar scenario unfolding here.

There are increasing calls for President Trump to issue a national shut down but he is resisting at all costs in order to keep the few businesses open that can remain open, and allow people to feed themselves.

Now, the government is telling everyone now to stay at home for 15 days, fervently wash their hands and avoid coming into contact with anyone who may be susceptible to the virus.

Dr Adams told the entire nation to presume they have the virus - and handle others as if they do too.

'In America, most of our authority lies at the state level.

'Some states have been really aggressive, some not so much - that's why the president put out the guidelines earlier this week - to say look America, everyone needs to hold off non-essential travel.

'Everyone needs to stay home from work if they can. Everyone has to be in gatherings of 10 or less.

'If we all do that, across the country, then we can have our trajectory like China.

'Good news out of China last night - no new reported domestic cases,' Dr. Adams said on Thursday.

'Every model you have has a best case scenario and worst case scenario. Italy looks like the worst case scenario. That's why we are ringing the alarm.

'That's why we are telling America to take this seriously but we have a better case scenario. China is reassuring.

'China shows us that if we do this, then in six to eight weeks we will hit our peak and start to come back down again.

'While I've got you- did you see I sent out a safe hands challenge to you on Twitter?

'We need to make sure people understand right now that the two best things you can do to protect your community are good hygiene and social distancing. Stay off the beaches.

'We've got 300million plus people in this country. Little things you do add up to big things over time.

'If you are negligent if you don't have good hygiene, if you go out and spread disease then it can add up over time but good behaviors add up over time.

'I want everyone to act as if you have the virus,' he warned.

New York Gov Andrew Cuomo issued similar remarks at a press conference of his own, which he brought his 22-year-old daughter Michaela to.

He made the point that he cannot control her or force her to self-quarantine despite being able to quarantine an entire state.

Cuomo called the youngsters who are still going out and mingling in large groups 'unintelligent' and 'reckless'.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo brought his daughter, 22-year-old Michaela Kennedy Cuomo, to a press conference on coronavirus on Thursday to appeal to young people to stay home

VP Pence says the Trump administration has 'identified' tens of thousands of ventilators that can be 'converted' to help patients amid feared dramatic shortfall of medical equipment

Vice President Mike Pence told reporters Thursday that the administration has located 'tens of thousands' of ventilators that can be used to help victims of the coronavirus who need to be hospitalized.

Pence spoke alongside President Trump amid criticism that the US health system is dramatically short of critical supplies amid the outbreak.

Pence said the administration had 'identified tens of thousands of ventilators that can be converted to treat patients.' He said he was 'increasingly confident that we will have the ventilators that we need.'

He spoke a day after Trump said the administration was ordering 'thousands and thousands' of the devices, but has yet to reveal any actions forcing companies to produce more equipment.

The nation has an estimated 62,000 ventilators, but could be dramatically short amid a crush of hospitalizations. Health officials are warning of a dangerous shortage of ventilators in hospitals across the United States that are bracing for an influx in coronavirus patients.

The shortage also applies to masks, gowns, and other equipment, including specialized N95 masks that can protect caregivers from the virus.

'Nobody ever heard of the number of masks that’s been ordered. They’re being made now,' Trump said.

Pence said the administration had 'identified tens of thousands of ventilators that can be converted to treat patients.' He said he was 'increasingly confident that we will have the ventilators that we need.'

Coronavirus task force coordinator Dr Deborah Birx indicated that the ventilators Pence identified may already be in use at hospitals and dentists' offices.

She said she wanted to 'really thank the health care workers that have been asked to reduce all elective surgeries medical and dental visits.' She said it would 'dramatically increase the number of ventilators that are available in hospitals but also in ambulatory surgical centers that can be converted and utilized.'

The World Health Organization has urged all countries to 'optimize the availability' of lung ventilation equipment, which are essential in treating critically-ill patients with COVID-19 by assisting or replacing breathing functions and pumping oxygen into the blood to keep organs functioning.

But as the pandemic continues to gain speed, US hospitals are scrambling to find a solution to a global shortage of ventilators, which are both tedious and expensive to produce.

General Electric's healthcare unit on Thursday announced that it will hire more people and increase the number of shifts as it races to produce ventilators round-the-clock to meet the surge in demand.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk also offered to help, stating on Twitter that his companies will repurpose factories to make ventilators if there's a shortage.

State officials are calling on the Trump administration to take address the issue head-on by ordering manufacturers to prioritize production of ventilators under the Federal Defense Procurement Act.

Health officials are warning of a dangerous shortage of ventilators in hospitals across the United States that are bracing for an influx in coronavirus patients (file photo)

New York Governor Cuomo raised the ventilator issue at a press conference on Thursday morning.

'What's going to be the issue in the healthcare system? It's going to be the number of hospital beds, it's going to be the amount of protective equipment, and most of all, it's going to come down to ventilators - a piece of equipment that up until now was relatively inconsequential,' he said.

'But, when you have respiratory illnesses and then this volume of respiratory illnesses then all of the sudden the number of ventilators becomes critical.'

Cuomo raised the ventilator issue at a press conference on Thursday morning, saying: 'This is a nationwide problem. Every state is shopping for ventilators'

Cuomo said the state currently has 'about 5,000' of the 30,000 ventilators New York hospitals are expected to need as the case count continues its rapid rise.

'This is a nationwide problem - every state is shopping for ventilators,' he said.

'We literally have people in China shopping for ventilators, which is one of the largest manufacturers.'

'This is a major problem. It's an issue that the federal government can actually play a very constructive role,' Cuomo said.

He called on the Trump administration to invoke the Federal Defense Procurement Act and order companies to produce hospital equipment to for struggling medical centers nationwide.

'We're going to need protective equipment in hospitals, we're going to need ventilators, and that is something that a state can't do but the federal government can do,' he said.

Repeating the call for action by the Trump administration toward the end of the press conference, Cuomo stated that the federal government currently has about 12,000 ventilators available for use - far fewer than the current demand.

'The federal government has to come in and handle this,' he said, noting that 'almost all of these COVID cases require the ventilators'.

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was invoking a wartime act to speed up production of masks, ventilators and other related equipment.