Los Angeles: Boston Celtics star Marcus Smart said he has the new coronavirus and urged young people to take the threat seriously and practice social distancing.
Smart tested positive Thursday but said he was not showing any of the symptoms. "I feel great. I feel fine. I feel like I can go play a game right now," the 26-year-old from Texas told CNN Friday.
But he had a warning for young Americans like those shown partying on Florida beaches undeterred by the threat of COVID-19. "I advise my generation, I am 26, to take it seriously," Smart said. "Be alert. Take precautions. By protecting yourself, you protect others.
"That's the key. People are not showing symptoms so it is hard for anyone to know they have the virus. But being around a group of people, friends, family and not isolating themselves, you are a carrier. You can spread the virus around without knowing."
On Twitter he also stressed that the younger generation must self-distance. "This is not a joke. Not doing so is selfish. Together we can beat this, but we must beat it together by being apart for a short while. Much love!!," he tweeted.
At least 14 NBA team members have so far tested positive for COVID-19, including Brooklyn Nets Kevin Durant and Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.
