Saints coach Sean Payton tests positive for coronavirus

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton told ESPN on Thursday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus.

According to NFL correspondent Adam Schefter, Payton is the first figure in the NFL community to test positive for the illness. The NBA, NHL and MLB have also reported cases of the virus.

“Sean Payton said he came forward with his coronavirus diagnosis because he wants all people to heed the warnings of government officials, stay inside, and behave responsibly,” Schefter said in a tweet.

Saints’ HC Sean Payton tested positive for the coronavirus, he told ESPN on Thursday. Payton is the first person in the NFL world known to test positive for the virus.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2020

Sean Payton said he came forward with his coronavirus diagnosis because he wants all people to heed the warnings of government officials, stay inside, and behave responsibly. More ahead on ESPN.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2020

“This is not just about social distancing. 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,” Payton told the network.

“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,” he said.

Payton said that he felt fatigued on Sunday, was tested Monday and received his results Thursday afternoon.

As of Thursday, there were more than 300 cases of COVID-19 in the state of Louisiana. There are more than 11,000 confirmed cases of the illness caused by the novel coronavirus in the U.S. with at least 157 deaths.