By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
The US State Department on Thursday issued a level-4 travel advisory for every country in light of controlling the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
Americans currently abroad have been advised to return to the USA immediately, or should be “prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period”. That being said, this also extends to players currently in Europe. Many EuroLeague teams have allowed their players to return home in the United States in the last few days, with the most recent example being that of Olimpia Milano’s.
Their quarantine after the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy ended Wednesday, Sergio Rodriguez, Vladimir Micov and Nemanja Nedovic have been allowed to leave Milan, while Keifer Sykes and Drew Crawford are waiting to depart for the US on Friday.
Maccabi, Zalgiris Kaunas, ASVEL and Olympiacos had already allowed their foreign players to leave prior to the US State Department’s travel advisory, while the majority of EuroLeague teams have not made a public announcement on the matter, though it is expected that they will decide on the matter in the coming days, if not hours.
In some cases, players have individually left their teams after being granted allowance, like Panathinaikos’ Jimmer Fredette who traveled back home last week and head coach Rick Pitino.
Given the severity of the travel restrictions for all native Americans, teams will have to act immediately and coordinate in this pandemic crisis, at all costs.