First positive test confirmed by XFL
The XFL confirmed that an unidentified Seattle Dragons player has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The player reported symptoms to team doctors Tuesday and was quarantined with the positive test being received Friday.
He played against the Roughnecks in Houston a week ago but didn’t have symptoms at that time.
The XFL has suspended its season because of the pandemic that has stricken the nation and world, and caused most sports to be put on pause.
None of the Roughnecks’ players have tested positive for the coronavirus.
The league said in a statement provided to the Houston Chronicle that it is taking all precautions and following recommendations from medical experts.
“A Dragons player who participated in the March 7 game against the Roughnecks in Houston was asymptomatic at that time,” the statement said. “He self-reported to team medical staff Tuesday and has been in quarantine since. A test was administered as early as possible, with the results received March 13.
“The league is alerting players, staff, vendors and partners associated with the Dragons, Roughnecks and BattleHawks, as this player also participated in the Feb. 29 game in St. Louis. The XFL is monitoring the situation closely and taking every measure necessary in accordance with recommendations set forth by the CDC. The XFL confirms that the Dragons player tested positive for COVID-19.”
Pistons’ Wood tests positive for virus
Christian Wood of the Detroit Pistons has tested positive for the coronavirus, a person with direct knowledge of the situation said Saturday night.
Wood is feeling fine, according to the person who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither the Pistons nor Wood had publicly confirmed his positive result. Wood’s diagnosis was revealed one week after he played against the Utah Jazz — spending much of that night matched up with Rudy Gobert, who was the first NBA player known to test positive for the virus followed by teammate Donovan Mitchell.
It cannot be concluded that any of those three players were involved in spreading it to one another.
The Pistons later confirmed that a player — Wood was not named — tested positive Saturday and has been in self-isolation.
Horse racing tracks open amid outbreak
Drayden Van Dyke hopped off Charlatan after winning the sixth race by 10¼ lengths at Santa Anita on Saturday and celebrated by trading elbow taps in the winner’s circle.
No traditional postrace handshakes during the coronavirus pandemic.
The jockey, like all riders at the Southern California track where no fans were in attendance, had already had his temperature taken.
Even without fans around, workers could be seen cleaning various public areas of Santa Anita to defend against the coronavirus, which left horse racing as one of the few sports still going on in the U.S.
Fonner Park in Grand Island, Neb., was one of the few sporting venues in the country open to fans Saturday.
No cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Hall County, where Fonner Park is located, and that was part of the reason track CEO Chris Kotulak decided to allow fans for the weekend racing programs.
Kotulak said the clubhouse and other viewing areas are being cleaned with increased frequency. Leaflets reminding employees and guests to practice good hygiene were distributed.
Later, jockeys voted not to race because of dangerous track conditions caused by a snowstorm that moved through the area.
Pac-12, Southland cancel spring sports
The Pac-12 Conference has canceled all spring sports and championships following a meeting of conference executives and athletic directors.
The conference also announced that all organized team activities are not allowed until at least March 29, when that decision will be revisited.
The smaller Southland Conference also announced a similar move.