NBA season is SUSPENDED over coronavirus: All games are cancelled as Utah Jazz player tests positive

The NBA has suspended its season after the Oklahoma City Thunder’s game against the Utah Jazz was postponed after a player tested positive for coronavirus.

The league confirmed in a statement that ‘the test result was reported shortly prior to the tip-off’ and ‘the affected player was not in the arena’.

‘The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice,’ a statement read. ‘The NBA will use this hiatus to determine the next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.’

Jazz center Rudy Gobert recently got sick after touching the microphones and recorders of reporters, it was recently reported.

In Oklahoma, the starting lineups were announced, and it appeared the game was ready to start after the Thunder mascot and their hype crew, the Storm Chasers, tried to keep a full house of fans entertained during the 35-minute delay.

Then, after conversation among the officials, the warmed up teams went back to the locker rooms, the game was called off and the officials left the floor.

The only explanation was a public address announcement citing ‘unforeseen circumstances.’

The NBA cancelled the season Wednesday night, shortly after the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Utah Jazz game was called off. Pictured, fans leave before tip off at Chesapeake Energy Arena

Jazz center Rudy Gobert recently tested positive for COVID-19, a source said. Gobert got sick after touching the microphones and recorders of reporters

But it was reported Gobert was ‘feeling good, strong and stable — and was feeling strong enough to play tonight’

By Wednesday night there were 1,284 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 37 deaths in the US

‘Sources say Gobert is feeling good, strong and stable — and was feeling strong enough to play tonight,’ Shams Charania, Senior lead NBA Insider tweeted Wednesday night.

Wednesday night there were 1,284 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 37 deaths.

Media reporters had been banned from locker rooms and were told they must interview team members off-grounds.

Wednesday night, NBA owners met via teleconference and had more talks scheduled Thursday with the intention of finalizing plans so an announcement could be made by the league.

The owners discussed an option to temporarily suspend play of all games, but the idea of playing without fans – and stressing that it would be for the short term – is what received the most support, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press.

The source spoke on condition of anonymity because no details had been made public.

Thursday’s Brooklyn at Golden State game was previously scheduled to be played without fans, but because of local edict banning the congregation of more than 1,000 people for events in San Francisco and not because of any league-wide mandate.

San Francisco had banned all large gatherings for the next two weeks and the Golden State Warriors intended to play at least one home game without fans.

NBA cancelled all games ‘until further notice’ and will use hiatus to determine’ next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic’

Officials talk to Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan (center) before tip off of a game against the Utah Jazz at Chesapeake Energy Arena

Gobert (27) is pictured Monday ahead of a Toronto Raptors game. The infected player wasn’t in the arena Wednesday night

Rudy Gobert reacts after dunking during the third quarter of the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on March 6

Mayor London Breed announced the ban Wednesday. She said she understood the order ‘is disruptive, but it is an important step to support public health.’

She said the Warriors were in support of the efforts. The Warriors’ next home game after that was March 25 against Atlanta.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced on Wednesday that an order prohibiting mass gatherings is forthcoming which would’ve likely impacted the state’s professional teams, including the NBA Cavaliers.

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 new virus. 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.

Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego previously said ‘these are scary times.’

‘We love our fans and it´s just going to feel different,’ Borrego said. ‘We´ll just have to navigate and figure it out as we go.’

Thursday’s Brooklyn at Golden State game was previously scheduled to be played without fans because of local edict banning the congregation of more than 1,000 people. Pictured is the Chase Center in San Francisco

Speaking earlier Wednesday, Milwaukee Bucks star and reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo said was tough for him to envision playing without fans in the building.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS?

Like other coronaviruses, including those that cause the common cold and that triggered SARS, COVID-19 is a respiratory illness.

The most common symptoms are:
Fever
Dry cough
Shortness of breath
Difficulty breathing
Fatigue

Although having a runny nose doesn’t rule out coronavirus, it doesn’t thus far appear to be a primary symptom.

Most people only become mildly ill, but the infection can turn serious and even deadly, especially for those who are older or have underlying health conditions.

In these cases, patients develop pneumonia, which can cause:

Potentially with yellow, green or bloody mucus
Fever, sweating and shaking chills
Shortness of breath
Rapid or shallow breathing
Pain when breathing, especially when breathing deeply or coughing
Low appetite, energy and fatigue
Nausea and vomiting (more common in children)
Confusion (more common in elderly people)
Some patients have also reported diarrhea and kidney failure has occassionally been a complication.

Avoid people with these symtpoms. If you develop them, call your health care provider before going to the hospital or doctor, so they and you can prepare to minimize possivle exposure if they suspect you have coronavirus.

‘It´s going to be hard. As an athlete, you play for the fans,’ Antetokounmpo said. ‘At the end of the day, you´re out there to win games, but we´re out there to entertain them also. When you have the kind of momentum swing, you have a dunk and a three, and there´s silence, it takes a lot out of your energy, it doesn´t give you energy. It´s going to be hard … but we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do.’

The NBA´s movement toward empty arenas before the season was cancelled came on the same day that the NCAA announced that the men´s and women´s Division I tournaments would be played without fans – except for a few family members – permitted inside to watch.

‘People are clearly taking the measures that they feel they need to take for safety,’ said Miami Heat guard Duncan Robinson, who played in both the Division I and Division III national championship games during his college days at Michigan and Williams.

‘There´s people a lot higher up than ourselves in this locker room who have the information and the knowledge to make those types of decisions,’ Robinson said. ‘In terms of if that were to happen here … we love playing in front of our fans and we feel like that gives us an advantage. But at the same time the NBA has to protect its players in the league and the fans.’

Wednesday morning the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases had told a Congressional committee that he would recommend the NBA not allow fans at games in response to the coronavirus.

Dr. Anthony Fauci was responding to a question asked by Rep. Glenn Grothman, a Wisconsin Republican, ‘is the NBA under-reacting or is the Ivy League overreacting?’ Grothman was referencing how the Ivy League recently cancelled its basketball tournaments, instead of having them without fans or keeping the status quo.

‘We would recommend that there not be large crowds,’ Fauci said. ‘If that means not having any people in the audience when the NBA plays, so be it. But as a public health official, anything that has crowds is something that would give a risk to spread.’

Teams playing host to games were taking additional safety measures Wednesday night. In Miami, condiment stands that are visited by countless fans during games were removed and some ushers wore rubber gloves. In Dallas, workers offered fans hand sanitizer.

Everything you need to know about coronavirus

By Natalie Rahhal, Acting US Health Editor for DailyMail.com

HOW DANGEROUS IS CORONAVIRUS?

About 14 percent of people who contract the Covid-19 coronavirus are taken to hospital – with severe symptoms including breathing problems and pneumonia. About 5 per cent need intensive care.

But the majority who get the virus suffer nothing more than a cough and may never know they are infected.

So far, some 51,000 people around the world have already recovered from coronavirus – and that just includes the numbers who received a diagnosis.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DIE?

Officially, the death rate so far has been just over three percent. But experts believe the true mortality rate is probably between one and two percent. This is because most mild cases have not been picked up by doctors or reflected in the official numbers – so the death rate is inflated.

HOW DOES THIS COMPARE WITH OTHER DISEASES?

Seasonal flu kills roughly 0.1 percent of people. So Covid-19 is between 10 and 20 times more fatal.

But it is far less dangerous than SARS – the virus that ripped across China in 2003 – which killed 10 percent of patients.

BUT DOESN’T CORONAVIRUS SPREAD MORE EASILY?

Yes, but not dramatically. The best estimates suggest every person with Covid-19 passes it on to 2.6 people, on average. For flu that number is 1.5.

CAN IT BE SPREAD WITHOUT SYMPTOMS?

Initially scientists feared carriers who had no symptoms could pass it on. That is now in doubt.

What is likely, however, is those who have mild symptoms are putting it down to a cold and going about their normal lives – which puts others at risk.

HOW LONG IS IT BEFORE SYMPTOMS APPEAR?

Again, unclear. Initially scientists said this could take up to two weeks.

But recent evidence suggests the incubation period could be as long as a month – particularly among children.

The average, however, is much shorter. A Chinese study said the average period of symptom onset was 5.4 days for adults and 6.5 for children.

WHO IS AT RISK?

The virus can affect anyone – with a study of the first 41 infected people revealing two thirds did not suffer from any pre-existing condition. But the middle-aged are most likely to get it – 78 percent of those infected in China have been aged 30 to 69.

WHAT ABOUT THE OLD?

Only 3 percent of people infected so far have been over 80 – but if they get it they are more vulnerable. Analysis of 72,000 cases in China suggests for over-80s the death rate is 15 percent. For those in their 70s the death rate is 8 percent and for those in their 60s, 4 percent.

WHO ELSE IS VULNERABLE?

Those with other conditions – such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and kidney problems – are likely to suffer severe complications if they become infected.

WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN?

Children seem to be low-risk. Less than 1 percent of the Chinese cases have been under the age of ten – and if children do get the virus it’s often a mild form.

They do, however, retain the virus for longer than adults.

A study last week found the virus was still present in the stools of some children for a month after they contracted it.

DOES GENDER MATTER?

Men are marginally more likely to get the virus than women. It is not clear why this is.

HOW DO DOCTORS TEST FOR COVID-19?

Anyone who has symptoms –particularly if they have travelled to an at-risk area – are told to call ahead to their health care provider, local emergency department or clinics.

This way, health care providers can be prepared, wearing masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment when they meet the possible patient and escort them to isolated areas of the facility.

They are tested using a cheek swab which is sent off for analysis at one of 12 Public Health England labs, a process that takes between 24 and 48 hours. Any positive test is double-checked at the main PHE lab in Colindale.

WHAT TREATMENT DO PATIENTS GET?

There is little doctors can do to tackle the virus, but they can treat the symptoms – such as fever and respiratory problems. Antivirals and antibiotics are also used, mainly to keep secondary problems at bay.

In the most serious cases patients are put on life-support equipment.

There are several clinical trials for potential coronavirus treatments ongoing worldwide, including one in Nebraska, where at least 13 patients are in quarantine, including two in biocontainment units.

WHAT ABOUT A VACCINE?

Even though the Wuhan virus appeared only a few weeks ago, 20 teams around the world are already manufacturing vaccines.

Chinese authorities provided the DNA code for the virus early on in the outbreak, enabling scientists to get to work straight away.

At least 30 companies and research institutions in the US are racing to make a vaccine.

Last week, one of these companies, Moderna, shipped its candidate vaccine to the US, signalling the shot was ready to begin clinical trials.

Even so, US health authorities say it will likely be upwards of a year before a vaccine is actually ready.