Seattle Dragons player tests positive for coronavirus

Days after the XFL announced that it had suspended its season due to the coronavirus pandemic, it has since been revealed that an unidentified Seattle Dragons player has tested positive for COVID-19. He had played against the St. Louis Battlehawks and Houston Roughnecks but was asymptomatic at the time.

“The league is alerting players, staff, vendors and partners associated with the Dragons, Roughnecks and BattleHawks,” the XFL said to USA TODAY Sports on Saturday. ”The XFL is monitoring the situation closely and taking every measure necessary in accordance with recommendations set forth by the CDC.”

The player has been in quarantine since Tuesday, the day he reported symptoms to team medical staff. He received the results of his test on Friday.

Earlier in the season, a part-time vendor at CenturyLink Field had a positive COVID-19 test, but officials “determined that the risk of infection to attendees was low.”

The state of Washington has been the hardest hit region in the United States, with 36 reported deaths (many from the Life Care Center in Kirkland) and more than 560 known cases. Governor Jay Inslee has since closed K-12 schools through April 24th, banned gatherings of more than 250 people. King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties are closing libraries indefinitely in response to this growing pandemic.

Other notable sports figures who have tested positive for coronavirus are Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, Juventus defender Daniele Rugani, and NBA players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. In response, the English Premier League (along with all “elite football” in the United Kingdom) has suspended play through at least early April, the NBA has suspended its regular season (also through at least early April), and you all know by now that Italy is in full lockdown.

Among other things, the sports world is at a virtual standstill.