Coronavirus in Utah: Jazz player tests positive for coronavirus

by: Dana Greene, SIMONE FRANCIS

Posted: Mar 12, 2020 / 12:00 AM MDT

Updated: Mar 12, 2020 / 01:36 AM MDT

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 Sports) – Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert has preliminarily tested positive for coronavirus, according to ESPN.

The NBA suspended its season “until further notice” after a Jazz player tested positive Wednesday for COVID-19. The announcement came only hours after the majority of the league’s owners were leaning toward playing games without fans in arenas.

The Jazz and Thunder players are currently quarantined in the OKC arena, league sources tell ESPN. This is following Rudy Gobert testing positive for the coronavirus.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 12, 2020

The Jazz organization and Utah state officials confirmed the preliminary positive virus test, but they did not identify Gobert as the affected player. Gobert was ruled out with an unspecified illness before Wednesday night’s game.

Here is video of the Jazz and Thunder leaving the court after being told their game had been delayed. Still waiting on word from the NBA… pic.twitter.com/UmL9mwi92x
— Dana Greene (@dana_greene) March 12, 2020

“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,” said Governor Herbert and Lt. Governor Cox in a prepared statement.

After the entire team was tested, the Jazz bus finally left the arena at approximately 1:00 AM central time.

The Jazz team buses just pulled out leaving the arena. Might be hard to see, but Donovan Mitchell was waving. pic.twitter.com/zlz3e32GIM
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) March 12, 2020

“The NBA is suspending gameplay following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice,” the league said in a statement Wednesday. “The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.”

The test result, the Utah Jazz said, was reported shortly before the scheduled tip-off time for the Utah at Oklahoma City game. Players were on the floor for warmups and tip-off 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.”

Players from teams the Jazz have faced within the past 10 days are being told to self-quarantine, a source told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. The teams include Cavaliers, Knicks, Celtics, Pistons, and Raptors.

After Gobert’s media availability on Monday, he playfully touched all the microphones and recording devices as a joke, appearing to make light of new rules for reporters amid the virus outbreak.