By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
The NBA in collaboration with the NBPA is rating FDA approved tests for the coronavirus COVID-19, per ESPN. Depending on their evaluation, the tests can progress into a key toward salvaging the 2019-20 season.
The blood-testing devices with a prick of a finger can provide results within 15 minutes, which means that players and staff can be tested before entering any arena. However, they are still in the exploratory phase. There is no clear indication as to when their effectiveness in terms of availability and accuracy can be proven.
The NBA and the NBPA have been assessing its potential in recent weeks in hope of a solution in the near future as financial losses mount. Such a breakthrough in science can prove extremely helpful for sports action to return as soon as possible, apart from aiding overall in the fight against the coronavirus.
All above being noted, the NBA awaits developments in other areas that can place the 2019-20 season back on track while keeping in mind the possibility of prematurely ending the season. Any decisions go way beyond the league itself but are directly linked to gaining ground against the coronavirus in the USA and the rest of the world.
“We should just accept, at least for the month of April, we won’t be in a position to make any decisions,” noted Commissioner Adam Silver updating the current status during an interview streamed on NBA’s Twitter account.
Among considered options are holding games in one or two cities not severely affected. Even in this best-case scenario, players and staff might be confined before and after matches to limit the threat of the coronavirus spread.
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