The COVID-19 virus has become a national pandemic. All around the world people are contracting the virus and many, unfortunately, did not survive it.
It’s not just regular people though that are testing positive, though: celebrities are as well. Idris Elba, Tom Hanks and his wife, Colton Underwood, and more have tested positive and are now being quarantined for their own health, plus the health of the public.
They aren’t alone though. The sports community has also taken a hit as well, proving that the virus can also attack people who are in fit condition. From basketball players to soccer players and even cyclists, many different athletes from all over the world have come forward and admitted they are positive. The disease has even spread to some coaches.
Here are 10 athletes that have tested positive, so far...
10 NBA Player Rudy Gobert Announced March 11th That He Tested Positive For The Virus
Rudy Gobert, who plays center for the Utah Jazz NBA team, was the first NBA player to turn up positive for the coronavirus on March 11th, which forced the NBA to make the decision to suspend the 2019-2020 season. Before this, he had jokingly played around by touching press conference microphones, he later apologized and warned others to start taking the virus seriously.
9 Rudy's Teammate, Donovan Mitchell, Announced March 12th That He Was Also Positive
Rudy Gobert wasn’t the only Utah Jazz player to test positive for the virus. On March 12th, all-star forward Donovan Mitchell took to his Instagram to announce that he had also contracted the virus. He assured all his fans though that he was taking necessary steps to ensure his health and the health of others was the top priority.
8 Head Soccer Coach Mikel Arteta Announced March 12th That He Had Tested Positive
On March 12th, Mikel Arteta, the head coach for the Arsenal Soccer Club, became the first to test positive in England’s soccer Premier League. Since then, the team’s training center has been shut down and Mikel has been following the guidelines set in place by going into self-isolation for not only his own benefit but the public's as well.
7 Soccer Player Callum Hudson-Odoi Let His Fans Know He Had The Virus On March 12th
After soccer player Callum Hudson-Odoi came down with a mild cold, he decided to go get tested, which is when he learned on March 12th that he was positive for the virus. The following day after testing positive, Callum tweeted to his fans that he was recovering and isolating himself from the public.
6 Columbian Cyclist Fernando Gaviria Let The World Know He Was Positive On March 12th
On March 12th, Columbian cyclist Fernando Gaviria posted a video on his Instagram of himself announcing to his fans that he had tested positive for the virus after racing for Team Emirates in the UAE Tour. In the video, Fernando admits, “Exams have found that I am positive for coronavirus, but I am feeling good.”
5 Russian Cyclist Dmitry Starkhov Announced On March 12th That He Was Also Positive
On March 12th, it was announced that Russian ProTour cyclist Dmitry Strakhov had contracted the coronavirus and was being hospitalized in Abu Dhabi because of it. Just like Colombian cyclist Fernando Gavira, Dmitry had also participated in the UAE Tour, which is where he also contracted the virus. He is now spending his days in self-isolation.
4 NBA Player Christian Wood Announced March 14th He Was Positive
Christian Wood, NBA Player for the Detroit Pistons, was the first player after the two from Utah Jazz that tested positive for the virus. On March 14th, a source close to Christian told ESPN in an official Pistons team statement, “He is in isolation and under the care of the team’s medical staff.”
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3 NFL Head Coach Sean Payton Announced March 19th He Tested Positive
Sean Payton, who is the head coach for the NFL team the New Orleans Saints, is the first person in the NFL to test positive with the virus, so far. Sean announced in an official statement to ESPN on March 19th that he was, in fact, positive for the virus and was in isolation now.
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2 NBA Player Marcus Smart Let His Fan Know On March 19th He Was Also Positive
On March 19th, Celtics player Marcus Smart took to his Twitter to let the world know that five days ago he had tested positive for the virus and has been in isolation ever since with no symptoms. That same day, the LA Lakers also announced that two of their players were in quarantine after testing positive as well and under the care of the team’s physician.
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1 Soccer Player Blaise Matuidi Announced March 17th He Was Positive For The Virus
On March 17th, Blaise Matuidi became the second player on the Italian soccer team Juventus to test positive for the virus. A week earlier, fellow player Daniele Rugani announced he had contracted the virus. According to an official statement by Juventus, ever since his test results, Blaise has been in voluntary isolation.
Next: A Rundown Of The Celebs Who Tested Positive For COVID-19 (So Far)