Members of Philadelphia 76ers catch coronavirus after facing Kings on California trip
The Philadelphia 76ers announced Thursday that three members of their organization have tested positive for the coronavirus less than two weeks after returning from a California road trip that included a stop in Sacramento.
The 76ers played the Detroit Pistons on March 11 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on March 7, the day the NBA announced it was suspending its season. Three days later, Pistons center Christian Wood tested positive for coronavirus.
The 76ers had just returned from a four-game trip to California. They visited the Los Angeles Clippers on March 1, the Los Angeles Lakers on March 3, the Kings on March 5 and the Golden State Warriors on March 7. The Brooklyn Nets recently announced four of their players tested positive after returning from California, including former MVP Kevin Durant.
The Kings have reported that none of their players are exhibiting symptoms of the coronavirus.
The 76ers disclosed their positive test results in a statement released Tuesday afternoon. After consulting with medical experts and the NBA, the team received the recommendation that certain individuals within the organization, including players, coaches and specific basketball operations support staff, should be bested for COVID-19. Those tests were secured and processed privately, the team said.
The 76ers reported three positive test results to state and local health officials, as required, the team said. Those unnamed individuals are in self-isolation and will be monitored closely by medical professionals in accordance with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, the team said.
“The health of our players, staff, fans and community is paramount, and we continue to be guided by medical experts at this time,” the 76ers said in the statement. “We extend our gratitude and appreciation to the public health and medical communities for their tireless efforts during these challenging times, as well as to our fans and partners for their support.”
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 4:32 PM.
