NBA suspends its season after player tests positive to coronavirus
The National Basketball Association is suspending its season
after a player tested positive for coronavirus.
The league made the
announcement on Wednesday night after the NBA game between the Utah Jazz and
Oklahoma City Thunder was abruptly postponed.
The players from both
teams were already on the court at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City
for warm-ups when they were called back to the locker rooms to inform them
about a player who has been infected with coronavirus.
The NBA said the
affected player was not in the arena and the test results were reported shortly
before tip-off.
"The NBA is
suspending gameplay following the conclusion of tonight's schedule of games
until further notice," the NBA said in a statement. "The NBA will use
this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the
coronavirus pandemic."
“A player on the Utah
Jazz preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19. The test result was reported
shortly prior to the tipoff,” according to the news release.
“At that time,
tonight’s game was canceled. The affected player was not in the arena.”
In a statement, the Utah Jazz said a player on the team
tested negative for influenza, strep throat and an upper respiratory infection
Wednesday morning.
"The
individual's symptoms diminished over the course of today, however, in a
precautionary measure, and in consultation and cooperation with NBA medical
staff and Oklahoma health officials, the decision was made to test for
COVID-19," the team said.
The player is in the
care of health officials in Oklahoma City, the team said.
"We wish this player
a full and speedy recovery, and appreciate the work of health officials in
Oklahoma to test a member of the Utah Jazz for COVID-19, as well as their
prudent decision to test the entire team at this time," Utah Gov. Gary
Herbert and Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox said in a joint statement.
They also added that they are working to identify
individuals who have had close enough contact with the player as to have been
potentially exposed.
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