Boston Celtics All-NBA star forward Jayson Tatum has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 according to the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn, with the team deciding to cancel practice for the following day soon after Friday night’s win vs- the Washington Wizards following the positive test result.
Tatum will have to remain away from the team for 10-14 days as was noted first by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, becoming the second player diagnosed with the viral infection this week, and the fourth player out due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols. Robert Williams III was diagnosed with an asymptomatic case ahead of the Wizards contest, and teammates Tristan Thompson and Grant Williams are out as a precautionary measure.
UPDATE: League sources told the Globe that Jayson Tatum has tested positive for COVID-19 https://t.co/goJSsOfe7G
— Boston Globe Sports (@BGlobeSports) January 9, 2021
Washburn relates that both Williamses, Thompson and Carsen Edwards had all ridden in a car together, Edwards the only one wearing a mask, allowing him to avoid the precaution of sitting out on Friday.
The NBA believes it is unlikely Tatum caught the virus in an NBA game given how CDC date suggests transmission occurs, but as of yet, there seem to be no solid leads if that information is indeed correct.
With a more contagious variant on the loose in the United States, particularly Florida, where the Celtics played the Heat on Wednesday, a disturbing possibility looms that those assumptions may no longer be valid.
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