Following reports of four NBA players from the Brooklyn Nets testing positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio fired back at health officials.
"We wish them a speedy recovery," de Blasio tweeted. "But, with all due respect, an entire NBA team should NOT get tested for COVID-19 while there are critically ill patients waiting to be tested. Tests should not be for the wealthy, but for the sick."
NBA spokesman Mike Bass addressed the alarming crisis, says the league is now pushing for all teams to receive coronavirus tests.
"Public health authorities and team doctors have been concerned that, given NBA players' direct contact with each other and close interactions with the general public, in addition to their frequent travel, they could accelerate the spread of the virus," Bass said.
"Following two players testing positive last week, others were tested and five additional players tested positive. Hopefully, by these players choosing to make their test results public, they have drawn attention to the critical need for young people to follow CDC recommendations in order to protect others, particularly those with underlying health conditions and the elderly."
In other words, NBA players testing positive for the coronavirus can potentially become "super-spreaders" who unknowingly infect many other people. A total of seven NBA players have now been tested positive from the coronavirus (COVID-19).