Basketball legend Patrick Ewing announced on Friday that he has tested positive for coronavirus. The basketball Hall of Famer, who is now the head coach of Georgetown University‘s men’s basketball team, made the statement as a way to let the public know how serious the disease is.
“I want to share that I have tested positive for COVID-19. This virus is serious and should not be taken lightly,” the 57-year-old stated on Twitter. “I want to encourage everyone to stay safe and take care of yourself and your loved ones.” Ewing, who was the first pick overall in the 1985 NBA draft, made the formal announcement through the private Washington, D.C., institution’s athletic department. “Ewing has elected to share his diagnosis publicly to emphasize that this virus can affect anyone,” Georgetown included in the statement.