Celtics To Be Tested For Coronavirus During Weekend Self-Quarantine
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Celtics were supposed to spend their Thursday evening with a playoff-like tussle with the Bucks in Milwaukee. Instead, they're back in Boston, waiting to get tested for cornavirus.
The Celtics spent their Wednesday evening in Milwaukee in self-quarantine, following the NBA's announcement that the 2019-2020 season was being suspended after Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus.
The Celtics played Gobert and the Jazz in Boston last Friday, and along with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks (all teams that recently played the Jazz) were ordered to self-quarantine by the league. The good news for the Celtics is that they flew back to Boston on Thursday morning.
The team released a statement Thursday afternoon to update the status of players, coaches and staff members who were in contact with Gobert and the Utah Jazz, and were with the team in Milwaukee. The biggest takeaway is that while the team doesn't believe Jazz players were contagious while they were in Boston, the Celtics are still going to have everyone tested for coronavirus during their self-quarantine over the weekend:
Last night, it was learned that a player on the Utah Jazz preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19, and a second case has been reported this morning. The Celtics played the Jazz on Friday, March 6. We have been in constant communication with our Massachusetts Department of Public Health officials, including Larry Madoff MD of the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences at the Department. Specific to the news about the Utah players, the DPH has advised us that based on those players' health statuses during this period, it is unlikely that anyone from the team came into contact with them while they were contagious.
However, notwithstanding this information, we are exercising an abundance of caution in taking every measure to be vigilant and safe. These steps will include having players and staff who were in close contact with the Utah players or who traveled to Milwaukee to self-quarantine through the weekend, during which time all players will be tested, as will staff who came into close contact with the Utah players or who exhibit symptoms. We will also take any additional measures as necessary and as recommended by the DPH.
The team arrived back in Massachusetts around 2 p.m. Thursday, landing at Hanscom Air Force Base.
As for when the NBA may resume, the league reportedly told teams that the season will be suspended for a minimum of 30 days.
