While the NBA champion Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets quickly received coronavirus tests, the general public has been left waiting, sparking a backlash over privileged athletes’ and celebrities’ access to care.
“We wish them a speedy recovery. But, with all due respect, an entire NBA team should NOT get tested for COVID-19 while there are critically ill patients waiting to be tested,” tweeted New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio after it was reported the Nets had been tested and four players were isolated after positive coronavirus results.
“Tests should not be for the wealthy, but for the sick.”
As the coronavirus spreads and the United States deals with a shortage of test kits, the public has grown increasingly disgruntled over the ease by which professional athletes get tested while others displaying symptoms are forced to wait.
The highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the virus has now infected close to 8,000 Americans while the death toll has climbed to at least 145.
Kim Jong Un declares ‘everything has fundamentally changed’ as world watches Workers’ Party Congress for clues
‘Tariffs suck’: Some Republicans privately celebrate as Supreme Court blocks Trump policy
Trump responds to Supreme Court ruling rejecting sweeping tariffs powers: ‘A disgrace’
BREAKING: Trump Reportedly Rips Supreme Court Tariff Ruling as a ‘Disgrace’ – He Has Plan B
GOP Politician’s Vehicle Shot up, Home Targeted as Leftists Continue to Scream False Charges of Fascism, Racism, and Nazism
Multiple suspects are possible in Nancy Guthrie’s abduction
DHS says 8% of Nicaragua’s entire population illegally entered US under Biden
NORAD scrambles jets to intercept Russian bombers near Alaska
Husband of Ohio teacher charged with wife’s murder days after she was found dead in home
Hollywood Reporter All But Admits Network Hosts Would End All Political Interviews Before Platforming Critics of Democrats
Foreign agents pump large amounts of cash into campaigns ahead of 2026 elections
Illinois lieutenant governor seeking US Senate seat releases video of people saying ‘F— Trump’
Hollywood Legend Becomes Latest Billionaire to Flee California
The Golden Girls: US Women Thrive on the Ice at the Winter Olympics
Report: CNN’s Jake Tapper Is Getting Blamed For a New Network Policy, And He’s Not Happy About It
NBA commissioner Adam Silver, in an interview with ESPN on Wednesday, said he could understand de Blasio’s concern but the bigger one was that there are not enough tests available and that the league was simply following protocol.
“I of course understand his point and it’s unfortunate that we’re in this position as a society that it’s triage when it comes to testing,” said Silver, adding that eight full teams as well as individual players have been tested. “And so the fundamental issue is there are insufficient tests.
“But we’ve been following the recommendations of public health officials.”
USA Today reported last week that after Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus 58 members of the Jazz organization were tested.
INFECTED PLAYERS
So were the Oklahoma Thunder, the team the Jazz were scheduled to play last Wednesday, and the entire Toronto Raptors travelling squad who were concerned they might have come in contact with infected players during a visit to Salt Lake City on March 9.
The Los Angeles Lakers, the last team to play the Nets before the NBA season was suspended, announced on Wednesday their players were also undergoing tests for COVID-19.
Kim Jong Un declares ‘everything has fundamentally changed’ as world watches Workers’ Party Congress for clues
‘Tariffs suck’: Some Republicans privately celebrate as Supreme Court blocks Trump policy
Trump responds to Supreme Court ruling rejecting sweeping tariffs powers: ‘A disgrace’
BREAKING: Trump Reportedly Rips Supreme Court Tariff Ruling as a ‘Disgrace’ – He Has Plan B
GOP Politician’s Vehicle Shot up, Home Targeted as Leftists Continue to Scream False Charges of Fascism, Racism, and Nazism
Multiple suspects are possible in Nancy Guthrie’s abduction
DHS says 8% of Nicaragua’s entire population illegally entered US under Biden
NORAD scrambles jets to intercept Russian bombers near Alaska
Husband of Ohio teacher charged with wife’s murder days after she was found dead in home
Hollywood Reporter All But Admits Network Hosts Would End All Political Interviews Before Platforming Critics of Democrats
Foreign agents pump large amounts of cash into campaigns ahead of 2026 elections
Illinois lieutenant governor seeking US Senate seat releases video of people saying ‘F— Trump’
Hollywood Legend Becomes Latest Billionaire to Flee California
The Golden Girls: US Women Thrive on the Ice at the Winter Olympics
Report: CNN’s Jake Tapper Is Getting Blamed For a New Network Policy, And He’s Not Happy About It
The ability of NBA teams to secure tests on demand has drawn the wrath of fans on social media.
“The thing is that is always the case. The rich will always get it first and the poor will always get it last,” tweeted @thedrsec, who has over 23,000 followers and a radio program on 22 stations across seven states.
President Donald Trump waded into the issue during a news conference on Wednesday when he was asked, “How are non-symptomatic professional athletes getting tests while others are waiting in line and can’t get them? Do the well connected go to the front of the line?”
“No, I wouldn’t say so,” said the president. “But perhaps that’s the story of life. That does happen on occasion, and I’ve noticed where people have been tested fairly quickly.” In most cases the ability of teams to get their players tested has had more to do with money and going through private labs than state-run public health departments and jumping the queue.
The NBA also defended the speedy action as a way of preventing the spread of the virus with testing of players drawing it to the attention of young people.
Kim Jong Un declares ‘everything has fundamentally changed’ as world watches Workers’ Party Congress for clues
‘Tariffs suck’: Some Republicans privately celebrate as Supreme Court blocks Trump policy
Trump responds to Supreme Court ruling rejecting sweeping tariffs powers: ‘A disgrace’
BREAKING: Trump Reportedly Rips Supreme Court Tariff Ruling as a ‘Disgrace’ – He Has Plan B
GOP Politician’s Vehicle Shot up, Home Targeted as Leftists Continue to Scream False Charges of Fascism, Racism, and Nazism
Multiple suspects are possible in Nancy Guthrie’s abduction
DHS says 8% of Nicaragua’s entire population illegally entered US under Biden
NORAD scrambles jets to intercept Russian bombers near Alaska
Husband of Ohio teacher charged with wife’s murder days after she was found dead in home
Hollywood Reporter All But Admits Network Hosts Would End All Political Interviews Before Platforming Critics of Democrats
Foreign agents pump large amounts of cash into campaigns ahead of 2026 elections
Illinois lieutenant governor seeking US Senate seat releases video of people saying ‘F— Trump’
Hollywood Legend Becomes Latest Billionaire to Flee California
The Golden Girls: US Women Thrive on the Ice at the Winter Olympics
Report: CNN’s Jake Tapper Is Getting Blamed For a New Network Policy, And He’s Not Happy About It
“The NBA’s move to halt its season led the way for other leagues and raised awareness of the threat of the virus,” said Silver.
“My sense was that especially among young people, people were not taking these protocols very seriously until we did what we did.” (Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto. Additional reporting Rory Carroll in Los Angeles, Amy Tennery in New York, Editing by Ed Osmond)
Story cited here.
