ASU professor says he tested positive for COVID-19 after New York City trip
Mar 27, 2020, 1:56 PM
(Facebook Photo/Arizona State University)
(Facebook Photo/Arizona State University)
PHOENIX — An Arizona State University professor said he tested positive for COVID-19 after traveling to New York City for a school trip days after the university discouraged nonessential domestic travel because of the virus outbreak.
Brian DeMaris, who an ASU spokesperson confirmed as an employee, said Monday in a Facebook post that he started feeling ill after returning from the trip.
DeMaris was part of the school of music’s annual trip for graduating students to New York for a three-day industry showcase.
The travel fell during the university’s spring break, which started March 8 and ended March 15.
ASU on March 6 issued guidance to “seek alternative mechanisms to participate in conferences and professional meetings as much as possible.”
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An ASU music theatre student who posted photos in New York during the university’s spring break said Tuesday in a Facebook post that he also tested positive for COVID-19.
The university declined to comment on the specific trip and the diagnosis of the student or DeMaris, who is listed on ASU’s website as an associate professor and artistic director of music theatre and opera.
“On the Friday before break, the university prohibited all nonessential travel,” ASU said in a statement to KTAR News 92.3 FM on Friday. “Some university travel, including student trips, continued after that time, but each trip was evaluated to determine whether it was appropriate in light of the known facts at the time.”
DeMaris said in his post that he notified everyone he was with in New York of his diagnosis.
ASU on Tuesday confirmed to KTAR News that 15 of its students have been diagnosed with coronavirus, but offered no other details.
It is unclear how many students attended the school of music’s trip to New York.
Photos from the trip on the ASU Musical Theatre and Opera page on Facebook have been removed.
“Members of the Arizona State University community have tested positive for COVID-19 and as it continues to spread across the country and around the state, it is our expectation that the ASU community will be among those that continues to experience positive test results,” ASU said in the statement.
ASU on Tuesday made it a requirement for anyone who traveled to New York to self-isolate for 14 days because of the city’s high volume of cases.
More than 25,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported in New York.
DeMaris said in his post that he started to feel better after the ninth day of having symptoms.
“I’m posting so I can be a resource or sounding board for anyone who has questions,” DeMaris said. “Trying to avoid feeling stupid or guilty or other unproductive/unhealthy things which I’ve moved on from.”
