NBA suspends season after player tests positive for coronavirus
A coronavirus information poster outside a restroom at the American Airlines Arena on Wednesday in Miami. Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
The NBA suspended all games Wednesday evening until further notice in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak after a Utah Jazz player returned a positive result for the virus in a preliminary test.
Why it matters: It's the latest in a wave of event cancellations as organizations seek to limit large gatherings over the global pandemic.
Details: The test result was reported just before Wednesday's game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Jazz, after which the game was subsequently canceled, the NBA's statement said.
- "The affected player was not in the arena," the NBA added.
- Neither the Utah Jazz nor the NBA identified the player, but the official injury report lists the team's players Rudy Gobert and Emmanuel Mudiay as out due to "injury/illness."
Of note: The National Hockey League said a statement that it's "aware of the NBA’s decision tonight to indefinitely suspend its season due to a player testing positive" to the virus.
- "The NHL is continuing to consult with medical experts and is evaluating the options," the statement said. "We expect to have a further update tomorrow."
The big picture: There are more than 126,000 cases in over 100 countries and territories with more than 4,600 deaths. The U.S. has more than 1,300 cases as of 11pm ET.
Go deeper:
- Mark Cuban vows to help hourly workers impacted by NBA coronavirus move
- March Madness games to be played without fans due to coronavirus
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.