Karl-Anthony Towns' Mom Has Coronavirus, Was Put Into Coma

MINNEAPOLIS — NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns revealed early Wednesday morning that his mother has contracted the new coronavirus and continues to battle the disease. In an emotional video posted to Instagram, the Minnesota Timberwolves center held back tears while he explained his parents' conditions.

Both his mother and father were recently hospitalized. Towns' dad was eventually allowed to quarantine at his home.

However, the condition of Towns' mom was "deteriorating," the NBA player said, as her fever continued to spike despite receiving various medicines.

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At one point, things went "sideways," according to Towns. She is now in a medically-induced coma and is on a ventilator.

"This disease needs not to be taken lightly," he pleaded. "Please protect your families. Your loved ones. Your friends. Yourself."

Nearly two weeks ago, Towns announced he would be donating $100,000 to the Mayo Clinic, which has begun rolling out a test to detect COVID-19.

"Our team has been working around the clock for the past month to develop a test for COVID-19," said Dr. William Morice II, chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic.

"We are blown away by Karl's gesture to help us fast-track offering testing to more patients across Minnesota and the nation."

Mayo expects the donation to help increase testing capacity from 200 per day to over 1,000 tests per day in the coming weeks, according to a news release.

The number of confirmed cases of the COVID-19 increased to 262 in Minnesota Tuesday. That number is up from 235 Monday. There has been one death so far in the state from COVID-19.

Towns is the latest high-profile Minnesotan to be personally affected by COVID-19. On Saturday, the brother of Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan died from the coronavirus.

"COVID-19 now has a personal connection to me," Flanagan wrote. "Please do all you can to prevent one for you."

Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Monday that her husband contracted COVID-19 and is also battling pneumonia.

Also Monday, Gov. Tim Walz announced he will self-quarantine for 14 days after learning he had contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. A member of the governor's security has the disease. Walz was in close proximity to this individual late last week.

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