Donovan Mitchell has been reported to be the second Utah Jazz player to have tested positive with the coronavirus, a few hours after teammate, Rudy Gobert was diagnosed.
The NBA had announced the suspension of the season after Rudy Gobert was confirmed positive for the virus before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The NBA had released a statement saying:
“The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.”
According to the report obtained from ESPN, the Jazz announced Thursday that a second player has tested positive but did not identify Mitchell.
“We are working closely with the CDC, Oklahoma and Utah state officials, and the NBA to monitor their health and determine the best path moving forward,” the Jazz said in a statement
Jazz players are privately saying that Gobert showed a cavalier attitude toward the virus in the locker room, touching teammates and their belongings.
At Monday’s media availability, Gobert was seen touching all the microphones and tape recorders at the end of his session with reporters.
Players the Jazz have faced within the past 10 days are being told to self-quarantine, a source told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
In those 10 days, Utah has played the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors announced Thursday that members of the team’s travelling party have been tested for the coronavirus and that they are awaiting the results.
“The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic,” the league said in a statement.
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.
The vast majority of people recover from the virus. According to the World Health Organization, which labelled the coronavirus 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.
The NBA is expected to address next steps with teams when it conducts a call with the board of governors at 12:30 p.m. ET Thursday, ESPN report added.