NBA issues coronavirus prevention memo to Rockets, all teams

Thursday night’s game between the Rockets (39-21) and Clippers (42-19) is the first in Houston since the COVID-19 memo was issued.

In a memo sent this week to the Houston Rockets and all other NBA teams, the NBA is offering a list of recommendations to its players in hopes of mitigating risks from the global coronavirus crisis.

According to The Associated Press, the league told players to avoid high-fiving fans and strangers and avoid taking any items from fans such as pens, markers, balls, and jerseys for autographs.

Thursday night’s game between the Rockets (39-21) and Clippers (42-19) is the first in Houston since the COVID-19 memo was issued.

In the memo, the league told teams that it is consulting with numerous infectious disease experts, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and researchers at Columbia University in New York.

“We are also in regular communication with each other, NBA teams including team physicians and athletic trainers, other professional sports leagues, and of course, many of you,” the league wrote in the memo.

Last weekend, Portland guard CJ McCollum tweeted that he was “officially taking a break” from signing autographs until further notice.

On Wednesday, a 70-year-old man in Fort Bend County — located adjacent to Houston’s Harris County — tested “presumptively positive” for coronavirus. According to The New York Times, at least 152 patients with the illness have been treated across 16 U.S. states, including Texas.

As of Wednesday night, 11 U.S. cases had resulted in deaths, according to The New York Times database. The number of U.S. patients treated is far smaller than those diagnosed overseas, where thousands of people have died and tens of thousands have been infected.

The outbreak appears to be far more dangerous for the elderly and those with preexisting medical conditions, according to data from confirmed cases, but U.S. officials have not ruled out any age groups.

In the NBA’s memo, the league said it and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) would work with leading experts and team physicians to provide updated information and best practices.

According to The Associated Press, the league’s tips include many basic illness prevention measures, like staying home when feeling ill; avoiding contact with sick people; and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces. The NBA also suggests that players stay up to date on all routine vaccinations, including the flu vaccine.

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