Thirty-one Major League Baseball players and seven staff members tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus disease, league and union officials said Friday.
NASCAR also announced Friday that seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson tested positive for COVID-19. While he has had no symptoms, he will miss the Brickyard 400 this Sunday, his team said.
In MLB, positive results for players and staff came out of 3,185 samples, making the positivity rate 1.2 percent, MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association said in a joint statement.
The test was conducted as part of the mandatory assessment before training and other baseball activities, according to the statement.
The players who tested positive and the teams they play for were not identified.
The league suspended spring training in March due to the coronavirus, and opening day was delayed to July 23 or 24.
While the players and teams were not identified, the MLB and the union said that 19 teams had one or more people who tested positive during the admission evaluation.
The league anticipates a shortened season of 60 games. Since the early 1960s, an MLB regular season has consisted of 162 games.
Some teams have previously announced that a player or players tested positive for COVID-19, including the Philadelphia Phillies, the Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros. Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto told MLB.com last week that more than one player tested positive.
In NASCAR, Johnson tested positive on Friday afternoon, his team, Hendrick Motorsports, said in a statement.
Johnson, 44, was evaluated after his wife tested positive, the team said. She had experienced allergy-like symptoms but is “fine,” team owner Rick Hendrick said in a statement.
Johnson will not compete again until cleared by a doctor.
“My first priority is the health and safety of my loved ones and my teammates,” he said in a statement.
“I’ve never missed a race in my Cup career, but I know it’s going to be very difficult to see from the side when I’m supposed to be competing,” Johnson said. “Although this situation is extremely disappointing, I’m going to come back ready to win races and put myself in the fight for the playoffs.”
NASCAR said it is following the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in describing the steps for Johnson’s return, which include two negative tests 24 hours apart.
“Jimmie is a true battle-tested champion, and we wish him the best in his recovery,” the statement said. “NASCAR gave Jimmie a playoff exemption, and we look forward to his return as he races for an eighth NASCAR Cup championship.”
A traveling crew member will be quarantined as a precaution, Hendrick Motorsports said. Justin Allgaier will drive in place of Johnson in Indianapolis on Sunday.
There have been more than 2.7 million cases of COVID-19 in the United States, with more than 130,000 deaths related to the disease, according to the NBC news count.
Cases have increased in several states, and 19 states have regressed or paused reopening plans due to the disease.
