SAP Center Employee Tests for Coronavirus, San Jose Sharks Say

SAN JOSE, CA — An SAP Center employee has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the San Jose Sharks announced on Thursday night.

The employee last worked at SAP Center on March 3.

“This person is under self-quarantine and receiving care from medical professionals,” the team said in a statement. “We have been informed that this employee is recovering and feeling better.”

Santa Clara County issued a guidance statement March 5 recommending “postponing or canceling mass gatherings and large community events where large numbers of people are within arm’s length of one another.”

The county on Monday issued a three-week ban on mass gatherings of 1,000 people or more to stop the spread of the virus.

The Sharks announced Wednesday they would comply with the ban, saying they would play their next three home games before an empty arena.

That turned out to be a moot point when the NHL announced Thursday it was suspending its season.

The Sharks statement did not describe the extent to which the employee interacted with the public, but the team said it did not believe the employee put the public's health at risk.

"In coordination with the public health department, (Sharks Sports & Entertainment) Management is following the health authority's determination that risk to the public from that exposure is low and that no additional precautions are necessary," the team said.