As reports of cases of the coronavirus continue to spread throughout the country, businesses, colleges have made the decision to close to contain the spread of the disease. There are already a 1,000 cases reported around the country.
Several television shows including The Wendy Williams Show and The View, which are filmed in front of studio audiences, have decided to continue filming new episodes without an audience.
Tom Hanks and wife, Rita Wilson have been quarantined after testing positive for coronavirus (or COVID-19). Hanks was on a film set in Australia, “We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too,” he said.
— Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) March 13, 2020
Nearly all sports leagues have cancelled their seasons. Earlier plans to play to empty stadiums wasn’t well received, with LeBron James saying he wouldn’t participate. He later had a change of mind. “When I was asked the question … I had no idea that there was actually a conversation going on behind closed doors about the particular virus,” James told reporters at shootaround on Tuesday. “Obviously, I would be very disappointed not having the fans, because that’s what I play for.
“I’d be disappointed in that. At the same time, you gotta listen to the people that’s keeping a track on what’s going on. If they feel it’s best for the safety of the players, the safety of the franchise, the safety of the league to mandate that, then we’ll all listen to them.”
Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert became the first confirmed athlete to contract the coronavirus. Earlier in the week Gobert had made light of the virus and nation-wide panic as he made a point of touching every microphone during a press conference. He tested positive shortly afterward.
So…here is Rudy touching all the mics following Mondays shoot around that has some people concerned… #TakeNote #utahjazz #CoronaVirus pic.twitter.com/dr4auECTr4
— Dave Fox (@Davefox2) March 12, 2020
Gobert’s teammate, and locker room neighbor, Donovan Mitchell, also tested positive. Not long after Gobert’s condition was confirmed, the NBA made the decision to suspend the season.
Gobert apologized on Twitter. A press release posted to his Twitter account read, “I would like to publicly apologize to people I may have endangered. I really did not think I was a carrier of this pathology. I lacked discernment and admit it.”
Meanwhile, President Trump, who has yet to confirm whether he has been tested for the virus after a number of people he had direct contact with were confirmed to be infected, held a televised address on Wednesday night, March 11, where he announced all travel from Europe to the United States would be suspended for the next 30 days in an attempt to put an end to growing criticism if his administration’s lackluster response to the crisis, and to put a plunging stock market at ease. The day after Trump’s less than assuring address, the market had the worst single-day loss since 1987.
Written with contributions from Tasha Jacobs.
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