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Saints coach Sean Payton tests positive for Chinese virus

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton tested positive for coronavirus, Payton told ESPN. Payton is the first known person within the NFL to test positive for the virus. The 56-year-old received the result Thursday after taking the exam Monday. He’s experiencing fatigue at home but doesn’t have a fever or cough. “This is not …

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton tested positive for coronavirus, Payton told ESPN.

Payton is the first known person within the NFL to test positive for the virus. The 56-year-old received the result Thursday after taking the exam Monday. He’s experiencing fatigue at home but doesn’t have a fever or cough.

“This is not just about social distancing,” Payton told ESPN. “It’s shutting down here for a week to two weeks. If people understand the curve, and understand the bump, we can easily work together as a country to reduce it. Take a minute to understand what the experts are saying. It’s not complicated to do what they’re asking of us. Just that type of small investment by every one of us will have a dramatic impact.

Sean PaytonGetty Images

“I was fortunate to be in the minority, without the serious side effects that some have. I’m lucky. Younger people feel like they can handle this, but they can be a carrier to someone who can’t handle it. So we all need to do our part. It’s important for every one of us to do our part.”

Payton, who was the Giants’ offensive coordinator from 2000-02, has been the Saints’ coach since 2006. He led the franchise to its first ever Super Bowl title during the 2009 NFL season.

Seven NBA players, including Kevin Durant, have tested positive for COVID-19, while one NHL player on the Senators and two Yankees minor-league players have also tested positive.

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