Those who downplayed the seriousness of coronavirus got a rude awakening when the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced on Wednesday that is has moved to suspend this year’s championship season.
Coronavirus effect: NBA suspends season
As reported by Sports Illustrated, the NBA was forced to clear the court until further notice after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for coronavirus.
While it remains to be confirmed, reports suggest that Rudy Gobert is the player who is infected with the pneumonia-like virus.
Sporting and other cultural events across the world have been either pushed back or cancelled in response to the vastly spreading respiratory disease.
Trump places travel ban on Europe and Asia
US President Donald Trump has placed a travel ban on non-US citizens travelling from Europe and Asia.
According to CBS News, word from the White House is that the travel ban is effective from Saturday 14 March and will remain enforced for at least 30 days.
“To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days. The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight.
“These restrictions will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground. There will be exemptions for Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings,” Trump stated in a public service announcement.
Basketball players react on social media
The US has recorded more than 1 000 cases of coronavirus and at least 33 patients have died. The news of the NBA suspension was not expected and some players, including Los Angeles Lakers point-guard, LeBron James, took to social media to vent their frustrations.
Tom Hanks and wife test positive for coronavirus
This unfortunate news was accompanied by confirmation that Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson, have been quarantined in Australia after testing positive for the virus.
“We felt a bit tired like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the coronavirus, and were found to be positive,” Hanks wrote on Instagram.
On a global scale, more than 105 000 people have been infected with coronavirus in more than 107 countries. At this time, the virus has claimed more than 4 000 lives.
