Coronavirus update: Athletes infected with COVID-19

The world of sports changed in the blink of an eye this week, as the coronavirus known as COVID-19 impacted athletes, coaches, and league play across the country.

Here are the live updates of all the players, coaches, and personnel infected with the coronavirus.

Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz center

In the United States, the coronavirus threat became all the more palpable, when Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus.

On Wednesday night, the matchup between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder was abruptly cancelled just before tipoff, after Gobert felt sick and was determined to have contracted the virus.

Later that night, the NBA announced it had suspended the season “until further notice.”

Gobert has since faced criticism for deliberately placing his hands on all the microphones during a presser following a shoot-around on Monday. He had reportedly acted careless in the locker room, as well, by touching other players and their belongings, despite the concern surrounding the coronavirus.

Donovan Mitchell, Utaz Jazz guard

The fear that other players, coaches, and personnel could contract the virus from being around Gobert was exacerbated Thursday morning, when teammate Donovan Mitchell revealed he had tested positive for coronavirus.

Mitchell took to Instagram to show gratitude for the support he’d received since his diagnosis and urged others to educate themselves on the virus and to behave responsibly.

No other Jazz players have tested positive for COVID-19 at this time.

Any team in the league that played the Jazz in the past 10 days has also been asked to self-quarantine as a precautionary measure. That includes the Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, and Toronto Raptors.

Daniele Rugani, Juventus defender

On Wednesday, a professional soccer player in Italy—one of the countries currently hit hardest by coronavirus—tested positive for COVID-19. Juventus defender Daniele Rugani became the first player from Serie A with a confirmed diagnosis and is taking part in isolation procedures required by law.   

Rugani had just played against Inter Milan on Sunday in a spectator-less stadium.

The Italian government announced on March 4 that all sporting events in Italy would take place without fans present for at least the next month in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager 

On Thursday, even more athletes and coaching staff across the world tested positive for the coronavirus. Arsenal announced yesterday that manager Mikel Arteta had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and that the team's London Colney training center would be closed.

Club personnel who had been in close contact with Arteta are now abiding by government health guidelines to self-isolate, as a result.

Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chelsea winger

The soccer world was affected once again on Thursday, when 19-year-old Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive.

According to the club's website, the full Chelsea squad, coaching staff, and backroom staff, as well as any other Chelsea personnel who came into recent close contact with Hudson-Odoi in the men's team building will self-isolate.

Charles Barkley, Inside the NBA panelist and former NBA star

On Thursday, Charles Barkley disclosed that he was in self-quarantine, at the advice of his doctors. Barkley felt ill when he arrived in Atlanta after visiting New York, an area with a growing number of coronavirus cases. He's been instructed to self-quarantine for 48 hours and has been tested for coronavirus, but is awaiting results. 

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Check back for more live updates on COVID-19 and its impact on the sports world.