Utah Jazz teammates Donovan Mitchell (left) and Rudy Gobert have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. So far, they are the only members of the NBA team to test positive after all players and coaches were tested on Wednesday.
Mitchell, 23, revealed his diagnosis on Thursday, a day after the NBA suspended all games until further notice due to irrational fears over the viral outbreak.
Gobert, 27, announced he tested positive on Wednesday before the game between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder. The game was cancelled before tip-off on Wednesday and the fans were sent home.
The 7-1 center playfully touched every microphone in the press room to mock the NBA’s coronavirus guidelines before testing positive for the virus.
Gobert was remorseful. “I was careless and make no excuse,” he said in an Instagram post.
Sources tell The Athletica NBA that Gobert is “feeling good, strong and stable” – and was feeling strong enough to play on Wednesday.
Mitchell issued a statement on Instagram.com, thanking everyone for positive messages.
“Thanks to everyone who has been reaching out since hearing the news about my positive test,” Mitchell wrote. “We are all learning more about the seriousness of this situation and hopefully people can continue to educate themselves and realize that they need to behave responsibly both for their own health and for the well being of those around them.”
Many took that last sentence as a subtle message to Gobert.
Mitchell added that he was following his doctor’s medical advice. So far, he and Gobert show no symptoms of the disease.
Mitchell’s father, Donovan Mitchell Sr., who works for the New York Mets, will be tested for the coronavirus. He most recently saw his son when the Jazz played the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 4. The virus has an incubation period of 2 to 14 days.
For most healthy people under age 60, the novel coronavirus causes only mild symptoms such as cough, headache, sore throat and low-grade fever.
The virus can cause serious illness among the elderly population, particularly those with existing health problems such as heart and respiratory problems or diabetes.
