Payton said he is feeling tired but resting at home after going into self-quarantine. (Photo by GRANT HALVERSON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has tested positive for the new coronavirus, becoming the first person from the National Football League known to have contracted the disease.
Payton said he is feeling tired but resting at home after going into self-quarantine.
“I was fortunate to be in the minority, without the serious side effects that some have. I’m lucky,” Payton told American sports broadcaster ESPN on Thursday.
Payton said he began feeling unwell on Sunday and got tested the next day. It took three days for the results to come back positive.
About 80 percent of those with the disease develop a fever and cough, but Payton said so far he has not shown any signs of those symptoms.
Payton said he hopes younger people would listen to expert advice and stay indoors.
“Younger people feel like they can handle this, but they can be a carrier to someone who can’t handle it,” Payton told ESPN. “So we all need to do our part. It’s important for every one of us to do our part.
“This is not just about social distancing. It’s shutting down here for a week to two weeks,” he said. “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.”
Payton did not say where or how he was able to get access to testing.
© Agence France-Presse
