The NBA has suspended its season after a player tested positive to coronavirus on Wednesday. The news came after the NBA game between the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder was abruptly postponed on Wednesday night. The player who tested positive was centre Rudy Gobert.
According to a statement issued by the NBA, “The NBA is suspending gameplay following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice, the NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.”
The test result, the NBA said, was reported shortly before the scheduled tipoff time for Utah at Oklahoma City game on Wednesday night was called off. Players were on the floor for warmups and tipoff was moments away when they were told to return to their locker rooms. About 30 minutes later, fans were told the game was postponed “due to unforeseen circumstances.” The NBA’s minor league where teams have somewhere between six and nine games left on their 50-game schedules will also face suspension.
The Utah Jazz also released a statement saying a player tested negative earlier for flu, strep throat and an upper respiratory infection. That player’s symptoms diminished as the day went along, but the decision was made to test for COVID-19 anyway. That test came back with a preliminary positive result. “The individual is currently in the care of health officials in Oklahoma City,” the Jazz said, adding that updates would come as appropriate.
For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
According to the World Health Organization, which declared a pandemic on Wednesday, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered.
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