Wizards Self-Quarantine After Jazz Test Positive For Coronavirus

WASHINGTON, DC — Washington Wizards players, coaches and staff have been directed to self-quarantine after two Utah Jazz players were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, the team announced Thursday.

The team said the decision was made "with an abundance of caution" due to the team’s recent game at Utah on Feb. 29 and its March 10 game against the New York Knicks, which played Utah on March 4. Utah Jazz players Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to reports.

One day after the NBA suspended its season to prevent the spread of the coronavirus among players, employees and fans, Major League Soccer (MLS) suspended its season until further notice due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak. In Europe, Champions League soccer matches are being played without fans in attendance in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

DC United, with a 1-1 record to start the season, was scheduled to play in Cincinnati on Saturday and in Philadelphia on March 22. No MLS players are known to have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Across Virginia, D.C. and Maryland, there are now 33 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. The disease first emerged in Wuhan, China, late last year and has now infected more than 100,000 people around the globe and killed 4,590. The World Health Organization announced Wednesday it now considers the global outbreak a "pandemic."

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Under the direction of MedStar medical staff, Wizards players, coaches and staff have been to self-quarantine for the next three to four days. "Players, coaches and basketball operations staff who exhibit or develop flu-like symptoms will be tested for COVID-19," the team said.

The Washington Capitals home game against the Detroit Red Wings Thursday nigth at Capital One Arena was postponed after the NHL suspended the league's season.

Major League Baseball announced Thursday that it is suspending the rest of spring training and delaying the start of the 2020 regular season by at least two weeks. MLB said it will then reassess the situation and decide what to do with the rest of the season.

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The Washington Nationals, who are in Florida for spring training, on Wednesday announced that the team's annual fundraising gala scheduled for later this month has been postponed in response to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak.

"In the best interest of the health and safety of our Washington Nationals players, valued donors and committed fans, we have decided to postpone the Nationals Homecoming Gala at The Anthem at District Wharf scheduled for March 23," the team said in a statement.