Only two NBA players out of 322 tested positive for COVID-19 during quarantine within the bubble environment at Disney in Central Florida, the league announced Monday.
© Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
The NBA reported two positive COVID-19 tests during the quarantine period in the Disney bubble.
“Those players never cleared the quarantine and have since left the Campus to isolate themselves at home or in isolated homes,” the NBA said in a statement.
A positive rate of less than 1% is a promising start for the NBA, which is trying to complete its season while staying at Disney resorts and playing nearby games in three arenas at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. In comparison, nearby Orange County, Florida has had a double-digit positive rate for two weeks, including 11.4% on Sunday.
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Much of the success of the NBA’s attempt to end the season in early October and crown a champion depends on keeping the new coronavirus out of the bubble environment, or at least limiting it so there are no serious outbreaks.
The NBA’s health and safety protocols document had detailed instructions for getting to central Florida, and that included bringing in only players and staff who had not recently tested positive for COVID-19.
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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said it is realistic to believe that a person in the bubble will test positive.
“If we had a significant spread of the coronavirus through our community, that could lead us to stop, but we are working closely with the Players Association, with Disney and public health officials in Florida as to what that line should be, and not it has been precisely designed, “Silver told reporters June 26.” I think we just want to get going and start to see how our tests work and how the protocols work and then we will make decisions as we go along. “
Major League Soccer has struggled to contain the virus, with two teams, FC Dallas and Nashville SC, having to withdraw from the MLS Return Tournament due to the amount of positive evidence.
Russell Westbrook of Houston announced Monday that he tested positive for COVID-19 before the team left for Orlando and said he will join the team once he has received medical clearance.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The NBA says that only 2 players tested positive for COVID-19 during the Orlando bubble quarantine period.
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