THE NEW Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton has tested positive for coronavirus.
Payton is the first person in the NFL world known to test positive for the virus.
The 56-year-old received his diagnosis on Thursday after taking an exam on Monday, reported ESPN.
Payton said he felt unwell on Sunday and took the COVID-19 test the following day which showed he was positive with the virus.
The football coach is now resting at home and fatigued, but said he does not have a fever or cough.
Payton told ESPN: "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.
"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 is currently in self-quarantine and is optimistic about having a full recovery.
"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."
Louisiana, where Payton lives, has been one of the most infected states in the US.
"The concern with Louisiana is the amount of people that come in and out of this area after Mardi Gras season. This is an area that doctors are concerned about. So our parents, and those that are more susceptible to this virus, deserve everyone doing their best to combat it.
"There are hundreds of people right now in tough predicaments, fighting for their lives. Let's be part of the solution, not the problem. We can easily help reduce the numbers of those impacted. We have to do our best to beat this and I know we can."
Currently the amount of COVID-19 cases has topped 236,000 globally, with at least 11,238 in the US alone.
This means American coronavirus cases have soared by more than 40% in the last 24 hours.
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