COVID-19 testing in the U.S. lags behind other countries, except when it comes to the NBA, where the league has been testing players with ease, SBNation reports.
Since Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive March 11, the NBA has been testing an array of players at a rate much faster than that of the general public. As of March 20, seven players including Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant have tested positive for the coronavirus.
For example, the Utah Jazz tested 58 players and personnel in Oklahoma City after Mr. Gobert tested positive, and the Brooklyn Nets tested the entire team in New York City, where tests are in low supply. So how is the NBA doing it?
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported teams are securing private tests to not affect the availability of tests for the public, in reporting backed up by The New York Times.
That said, the CDC views NBA players and other athletes as potential "super-spreaders" because players frequently come into contact with the general public.
Tests for the public remain scarce across the U.S.