Gay San Francisco Nurse Hospitalized With COVID-19

A gay nurse who attended the LGBTQ Task Force's Winter Party has been hospitalized for COVID-19.

Mike Schultz -- a nurse at San Francisco's California Pacific Medical Center -- had attended the fundraiser, whose events ran March 4 to 10, with his boyfriend, Joshua Hebblethwaite, a DJ at the festivities.

Schultz, 43, began experiencing symptoms one day after traveling to Hebblethwaite's Boston home on March 10. He was hospitalized for the novel coronavirus in mid-March, reports Pink News. For over two weeks, he has been on a ventilator at an ICU at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Brighton, Mass.

Schultz's loved ones launched a GoFundMe to help cover his medical expenses. "We are all aware of how expensive hospital stays are," the crowdsourcing page reads. "Additionally, Mike's inability to work at this time and during his recovery will cause a huge financial burden that he shouldn't have to handle on his own. Let's all pitch in and help this amazing guy however we can -- every dollar helps and will go a long way for him."

At the time of this article's publishing, the GoFundMe had raised over $12,000 of a $15,000 goal.

Hebblethwaite also hosted a fundraiser Saturday in which he spun music to help draw attention to the cause. "We realize these are crazy times and everyone's lives, schedules, jobs are upended but anything helps," he wrote on Facebook.

"I am asking if there is anything you can do to assist Mike with his transition we would be immensely grateful. It's going to be a long road and he will need all the help he can get."

Several Winter Party attendees have reported contracting COVID-19 since the gathering, which drew around 10,000 partygoers. Attendee Israel Carrera, 40, and volunteer Ron Rich have died of the virus.

The Winter Party occurred just prior to President Trump's declaration of a national emergency and the rush of "stay-at-home" orders that have occurred to combat the spread of the virus. Los Angeles held its marathon the same weekend prior to a sudden turn to lockdown.