Coronavirus world sport: 76ers, Sean Payton test positive, Monaco GP off

The Philadelphia 76ers are the latest NBA team to be hit by the coronavirus outbreak, while an NFL coach has also tested positive.

Three unnamed members of the 76ers have coronavirus. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia 76ers have announced three members of the NBA franchise have tested positive for coronavirus.

The Sixers did not specify if these were players, saying the trio are part of the “organisation”.

“The Philadelphia 76ers, in consultation with medical experts and the NBA, received the recommendation that certain individuals from the organisation, including players, coaches and specific basketball operations support staff be tested for COVID-19,” the 76ers said in a statement.

“Three individuals have received positive test results for COVID-19. All other test results are currently negative. We have reported this information to state and local health authorities as required.

“The individuals are in isolation and will be monitored closely by medical professionals.”

Australian Ben Simmons plays for the 76ers. News.com.au is not suggesting he is one of those to have tested positive.

The Boston Celtics also announced Friday one of its players tested positive. Guard Marcus Smart later revealed he returned a positive test five days ago. Two LA Lakers have also tested positive.

NFL COACH SEAN PAYTON’S MESSAGE

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton learned Friday he has tested positive for the coronavirus. Payton is the first employee of either an NFL team or the league to make such a diagnosis public.

He told ESPN he came forward to motivate people to educate themselves about what they can do to help fight the pandemic. Payton said he took the test Tuesday after he began to feel ill a day earlier, but also said he has not been admitted to a hospital and does not have a fever or cough.

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton. (Grant Halverson/Getty)

The 56-year-old coach said he has been resting comfortably at home, where he is in self-quarantine.

“I was fortunate to be in the minority, without the serious side effects that some have. I’m lucky,” Payton told ESPN. “Younger people feel like they can handle this, but they can be a carrier to someone who can’t handle it. So we all need to do our part. It’s important for every one of us to do our part.”

MONACO GP WON’T HAPPEN THIS YEAR

The iconic Monaco Grand Prix was cancelled on Friday because of the coronavirus outbreak and two other Formula One races were postponed.

F1’s showcase race was scheduled for May 24 in the tiny principality on the Mediterranean coast between France and Italy. Hours after being postponed, along with races in the Netherlands and Spain, it was scrapped for 2020.

A race has been held every year since 1955 on Monaco’s sinewy street circuit, amid a backdrop of yachts, the simmering blue water of the famed harbour, and clinking Champagne glasses of the rich and famous.

The Automobile Club de Monaco said in a statement Thursday evening that “the situation is no longer tenable” for hosting the race and that it could not be rescheduled.

Sebastian Vettel driving in Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

The Dutch GP was set to return to its revamped Zandvoort track outside Amsterdam to host an F1 race on May 3, for the first time since the late Niki Lauda won there in 1985. Spain was set to follow on May 10.

Because of the latest postponements, the F1 season cannot get underway until June 7 at the Azerbaijan GP.

The season-opening Australian GP in Melbourne was called off only hours before it was due to start last Friday. The Bahrain GP, scheduled to start on Friday without fans, and the inaugural Vietnam GP on April 5 were then quickly called off. The Chinese GP in Shanghai on April 19 was postponed in February.

The mid-season break has been moved from August to March and April and extended from 14 to 21 consecutive days.

— with wires

Originally published as Coronavirus world sport: 76ers, Sean Payton test positive, Monaco GP off