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.
Trump Seeks to Take ‘Fat, Rich Insurance Companies’ Out of the Equation as He Lays Out ‘the Only’ Healthcare Plan He Will ‘Approve’
House Democrats in Turmoil as Allegations of Lying and ‘Election Subversion’ Fly: Report
Senate unanimously votes to send bill demanding Epstein file release to Trump’s desk
Former Obama staffer, ex-congressman among candidates in crowded Democrat primary for Mikie Sherrill’s seat
Report: George Soros Sent Funding to Group That Aims to Crush Conservative Media
Mexican president rejects US striking drug cartels despite riots over violent crime
YouTube fishing creator Mikey Rijavec found dead days after mayday call off Mexico coast
Watch: Professor Crashes Turning Point Meeting and Berates Students
Chicago woman set on fire during argument on CTA train, police say
Power stripped from Education Department in latest Trump administration move to dismantle it
US Ambassador Michael Waltz declares atrocities against Christians in Nigeria ‘genocide’
Catholic Priest and ‘Many Others’ Kidnapped by Armed Assailants
Republicans given green light to vote for Epstein list: ‘We’re done with words’
Republicans revive bid to require proof of citizenship for mail-in voter registration
Former Clinton and Obama Admin Official ‘Deeply Ashamed’ After Being Snared in Epstein Email Release
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.
Trump Seeks to Take ‘Fat, Rich Insurance Companies’ Out of the Equation as He Lays Out ‘the Only’ Healthcare Plan He Will ‘Approve’
House Democrats in Turmoil as Allegations of Lying and ‘Election Subversion’ Fly: Report
Senate unanimously votes to send bill demanding Epstein file release to Trump’s desk
Former Obama staffer, ex-congressman among candidates in crowded Democrat primary for Mikie Sherrill’s seat
Report: George Soros Sent Funding to Group That Aims to Crush Conservative Media
Mexican president rejects US striking drug cartels despite riots over violent crime
YouTube fishing creator Mikey Rijavec found dead days after mayday call off Mexico coast
Watch: Professor Crashes Turning Point Meeting and Berates Students
Chicago woman set on fire during argument on CTA train, police say
Power stripped from Education Department in latest Trump administration move to dismantle it
US Ambassador Michael Waltz declares atrocities against Christians in Nigeria ‘genocide’
Catholic Priest and ‘Many Others’ Kidnapped by Armed Assailants
Republicans given green light to vote for Epstein list: ‘We’re done with words’
Republicans revive bid to require proof of citizenship for mail-in voter registration
Former Clinton and Obama Admin Official ‘Deeply Ashamed’ After Being Snared in Epstein Email Release
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.
Trump Seeks to Take ‘Fat, Rich Insurance Companies’ Out of the Equation as He Lays Out ‘the Only’ Healthcare Plan He Will ‘Approve’
House Democrats in Turmoil as Allegations of Lying and ‘Election Subversion’ Fly: Report
Senate unanimously votes to send bill demanding Epstein file release to Trump’s desk
Former Obama staffer, ex-congressman among candidates in crowded Democrat primary for Mikie Sherrill’s seat
Report: George Soros Sent Funding to Group That Aims to Crush Conservative Media
Mexican president rejects US striking drug cartels despite riots over violent crime
YouTube fishing creator Mikey Rijavec found dead days after mayday call off Mexico coast
Watch: Professor Crashes Turning Point Meeting and Berates Students
Chicago woman set on fire during argument on CTA train, police say
Power stripped from Education Department in latest Trump administration move to dismantle it
US Ambassador Michael Waltz declares atrocities against Christians in Nigeria ‘genocide’
Catholic Priest and ‘Many Others’ Kidnapped by Armed Assailants
Republicans given green light to vote for Epstein list: ‘We’re done with words’
Republicans revive bid to require proof of citizenship for mail-in voter registration
Former Clinton and Obama Admin Official ‘Deeply Ashamed’ After Being Snared in Epstein Email Release
“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.
