The NBA and the CoViD

With more than a hundred cases of the corona virus discovered around the US, one death in Seattle, Washington and a confirmed case of an infected female health worker in Manhattan who came from Iran, the NBA had issued a memo to all teams to make necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.

Rarely can people be seen with face masks around New York but when news got out of that health worker presently quarantined at her house, a good number of NY residents can now be seen wearing masks in trains, buses and on the streets.  It is best to avoid crowds but if one is going in and out of the office during rush hours, it’s impossible because trains are packed.  Some are in panic mode and had been buying and hoarding supplies from Costco, Target and other wholesale outlets.  Yes, hand sanitizers and wet wipes never dreamed of being sold like hot commodities.

To date, teams’ schedule of games and travels remain as is.  The league and the players’ association are in constant communication with the Center for Disease Prevention and infectious disease experts and are regularly giving teams updates, closely monitoring the situation.  In case a player contracts the virus, he will initially miss at least two weeks for further observation.

“The corona virus remains a situation with the potential to change rapidly.  The health and safety of our employees, teams, players and fans is paramount”, the statement partly said.

Instead of handshakes and high fives, players are advised to do fist bumps with fans and to refrain from taking things like pens, balls, caps, jerseys and other related items to sign.  No mention of doing away with the “man hugs” players do to each other before and after games.

CJ McCollum of Portland declared to fans that he will be stopping signing autographs until he deems safe to do so, citing the virus had hit Oregon.  Boston’s Kemba Walker has his own take on signing items from fans.  “I’m pretty sure I’m still going to sign some autographs, but maybe I’ll just walk around with my own marker.”

If the outbreak does escalate in the US (heaven forbid), which experts predict to happen between late March to middle of April, the league are exploring some changes, if not outright cancellation of upcoming scouting events.  The global Hoop Summit in Portland come April which will have several foreign prospects and the NBA Draft Combine in May at Chicago.  These events involve hundreds of players, coaches, front office staff and medical personal.