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As first reported by Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday, the Lakers underwent testing for COVID-19, or the coronavirus, at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo on Wednesday. However, according to a report by Turner’s latest report on Wednesday, not everyone on the team got tested for the coronavirus:
The majority of Lakers still in Los Angeles were tested for the coronavirus around 9 a.m. Wednesday, according to people who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
In addition, none of the coaches or trainers were tested for the coronavirus. The testing was optional for players, per Turner.
Regardless of whether or not they were tested, the Lakers will enter a 14-day self-quarantine because they played the Brooklyn Nets on March 10, and four players from the Nets tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday, including Kevin Durant, who hasn’t played a game this season. In total, seven players on three different teams have tested positive for the coronavirus in the NBA so far, with two players testing positive on the Utah Jazz. The teams that played that most recently played the Jazz are expected to be quarantined too, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
The Lakers are hoping to get the results of their test back on Friday, per Turner.
Sources: A majority of the Lakers players were tested at 9 a.m. for the coronavirus at the practice facility. The doctor on site did testing with like this Q-tip through the nose, has to touch throat and twist it. Took about 10 seconds. Lakers hope to get results by Friday.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) March 18, 2020
If the Lakers’ test results come back negative, it will be a step in the right direction for the NBA, which suspended its regular season as a result of a player testing positive last week. However, the league is still expected to be on hold until at least two more months in accordance with the the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) coronavirus safety guidelines.
In any case, let’s wish the best for the Lakers and the rest of the country, as everyone continues to try and do their part to flatten the curve.
For more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. You can follow this author on Twitter at @RadRivas.