Go DJ Black N Mild, a New Orleans native and bounce music DJ, has reportedly died at age 44 after testing positive for Coronavirus, according to NOLA.com. The outlet reported that the deejay, whose birth name is Oliver Stokes Jr., was one of two Coronavirus-related deaths in Louisiana on Thursday (March 19), according to the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office.
The Coroner’s Office also confirmed on Friday (March 20) that DJ Black N Mild tested positive for COVID-19 and died the day before.
The New Orleans native also worked as an “in school suspension coordinator” at Arthur Ashe Charter School in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. “Our school community is devastated,” said Sabrina Pence, the CEO of FirstLine Schools, the charter organization that operates Arthur Ashe.
“We strongly encouraged anyone that had any type of symptoms — fever, cough, not feeling well in any capacity — to stay home,” Pence added.
DJ Black N Mild left work with a fever on March 9 and did not return to work.
Prior to his passing, the DJ revealed that he went to an urgent care facility on March 9. He also shared that he had a fever of 102.4 degrees.
Days later, on March 11, he said that he was admitted to University Medical Center. The DJ later posted on his social media “pneumonia not the flu.”
The spreading of COVID-19 has resulted in numerous precautionary measures, including states enforcing shelter-in-place mandates, where residents are asked to stay at home, unless they are going to do “essential” tasks, such as going to buy groceries, go for a run, walk the dog, pick up medicine, visit a doctor or get supplies to work from home, according to USA Today.
As of Sunday (March 22), California, Illinois, Connecticut, Oregon and New Jersey residents have been asked to quarantine themselves and stay home. New York residents are asked to abide by the state’s “Pause” plan, which asks that they stay home “to the maximum extent possible,” effective Sunday (March 22) at 8 p.m.
Pennsylvania has closed all nonessential businesses.