Just as the NBA — and seemingly Major League Baseball and other professional sports leagues — were preparing for a reality without fans in the stands in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive and forever altered history.
The NBA immediately suspended its season indefinitely, MLB soon after cancelled remaining Spring Training games and delayed Opening Day by at least two weeks, and the MLS and NHL have also halted their seasons.
As MLB continues to take measures in response to the global pandemic, a New York Yankees Minor League player was found to have tested positive for coronavirus. The unnamed player had only spent time on the Minor League side of the Yankees’ Spring Training facility.
There has been minimal concern to this point, but now a second a Yankees Minor League yielded a positive coronavirus test, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network:
Sources: The Yankees have a second positive test of a minor leaguer for coronavirus. The team is following health officials directives and players are being tested and remain quarantined.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 17, 2020
The Yankees had previously been among the teams whose players wished to remain in Spring Training camp. The Los Angeles Dodgers were also in that boat.
However, MLB suspended Spring Training operations and later said organized workouts and other activities that would result in 50 or more people gathering, were not permitted in conjunction with a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Upon the CDC further suggesting large events and mass gatherings not be held for at least the next eight weeks, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred pushed back Opening Day to mid-May, at the earliest.
The California Department of Public Health previously suggested public gathering of 250 or more people be cancelled across the state at least through March. California Governor Gavin Newsom additionally recommended the cancellation of all events due to attract at least 250 people.
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