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SPORTS Wednesday 4 March 2020
NBA to players:

Avoid high-fives as

virus concern grows

By TIM REYNOLDS you," the league wrote in its
AP Basketball Writer memo to teams, their phy-
MIAMI (AP) — The NBA sicians and athletic training
has told players to avoid staffs. ESPN first reported on
high-fiving fans and strang- the contents of the memo.
ers and avoid taking any Some players are already
item for autographs, the heeding the advice.
league's latest response in "Corona," Bobby Portis of
its ongoing monitoring of the New York Knicks said as
the coronavirus crisis that he offered some fist-bump
has spread to most corners greetings on Monday night
of the planet. before his team faced the
The league, in a memo sent Houston Rockets.
to teams on Sunday and Jimmy Butler of the Miami
obtained Monday by The Heat said he wasn't nec-
Associated Press, offered essarily worried or thinking
10 recommendations to about avoiding high-fives.
players with hopes of de- "I don't think about any Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) high-fives a fan after shooting the game-winning three
point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets,
creasing risks of getting the of that," Butler said. "I'm Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, in Houston.
virus — among them, not still going to be who I am. Associated Press
taking items such as pens, We're still going to be who
markers, balls and jerseys we are." hands, try to reduce con- prevent the spread of the cluding the flu vaccine."
from autograph seekers. Portland guard CJ McCol- tact with outsiders and out- coronavirus," the league The worldwide death toll
The NBA also told teams lum said in a tweet on Sat- side germs." said in the memo. topped 3,000 on Monday,
that it is consulting "with urday that he is taking the McCollum has tweeted or Many of the tips offered and the number of those
infectious disease experts, matter seriously, saying he retweeted several virus-re- by the NBA fell under com- infected rose to about
including the Centers for is "officially taking a break lated posts in the last cou- mon-sense level of best 89,000 in 70 countries on
Disease Control" and infec- from signing autographs ple days. practices when it comes every continent but Ant-
tious disease researchers at until further notice." "The coronavirus remains a to illness prevention: avoid- arctica. In the U.S., the vi-
Columbia University in New "You just have to be care- situation with the potential ing contact with people rus has been blamed for six
York. ful," McCollum said Mon- to change rapidly — the who are sick, staying home deaths, all in Washington
"We are also in regular day night in Orlando. ""Ob- NBA and the Players Asso- when feeling ill, cleaning state.
communication with each viously it's affecting people, ciation will continue to work and disinfecting frequently "Containment is feasible
other, NBA teams includ- especially people who are with leading experts and touched objects and sur- and must remain the top
ing team physicians and displaying weaker immune team physicians to provide faces. The league also sug- priority for all countries,"
athletic trainers, other pro- systems and people over up-to-date information and gested players make sure World Health Organiza-
fessional sports leagues, 60. You've got to check recommended practices they "are up to date with tion chief Tedros Adhanom
and of course, many of yourself and wash your that should be followed to all routine vaccinations, in- Ghebreyesus said.q

Virus forces Basketball Africa League to push back season

By TIM REYNOLDS the first BAL games to be pic Committee spokesman
AP Basketball Writer played there, the league Mark Adams said at a brief-
Concerns surrounding the had little choice but to call ing.
coronavirus have forced off plans to play. The news of the African
the postponement of the "Following the recommen- league's postponement
inaugural Basketball Africa dation of the Senegalese came one day after the
League season, which was government regarding the NBA told players to avoid
to start later this month. escalating health concerns high-fiving fans and strang-
No rescheduling plan was related to the coronavirus, ers and avoid taking any
announced. the BAL's inaugural sea- item for autographs, the
A total of seven African son will be postponed," league's latest response in
nations — Egypt, Senegal, Basketball Africa League its ongoing monitoring of
Nigeria, Angola, Tunisia, President Amadou Gallo the viral outbreak.
Morocco and Rwanda — Fall said. "I am disappoint- The league, in a memo sent
were to play host to games ed we are not able to tip A traveller wearing a mask at Johannesburg's OR Tambo Inter- to teams on Sunday and
during the inaugural sea- off this historic league as national Airport, Sunday, March 1, 2020. obtained Monday by The
son. scheduled." Associated Press Associated Press, offered
The virus, COVID-19, has Fall's statement only said 10 recommendations to
been found in four of those the league would be altogether, others being cials have stressed that the players with hopes of de-
countries so far: Tunisia, Mo- launched "at a later date." played with no fans present. games are still slated to go creasing risks of getting the
rocco, Senegal and Nige- Fears over the virus have It has prompted concerns on — for now. virus — among them, not
ria. The first confirmed case wreaked havoc on count- that the Tokyo Olympics "We are going to have taking items such as pens,
in Senegal was announced less sporting events around will not be held as planned the games on the 24th of markers, balls and jerseys
just this week, and with the globe, some canceled this summer, though offi- July," International Olym- from autograph seekers.q