FLINT TWP, MI -- A Flint-area student was exposed to the coronavirus by a Utah Jazz player at an NBA game Saturday, March 7, a Genesee County health official confirmed Friday.

A Carman-Ainsworth middle-schooler was exposed on Saturday March 7, to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday, March 11, according to a Thursday, March 12 news release from the district.

Geneseee County Health Department Director of Nursing Kim VanSlyke-Smith on Friday confirmed the Carman student was exposed to coronavirus through a Utah Jazz basketball player.

Asked about the nature of the contact with the player, VanSlyke said the student was given “some article … a towel or something” by the player.

The exposure occurred through the exchange of the item, she said.

The student and a sibling who attends Dye Elementary were both present at school this week, except for Thursday.

Two Utah Jazz players have tested positive for the coronavirus COVID-19. Utah center Rudy Gobert was the first Jazz player to test positive on Wednesday. Early Thursday, his teammate Donovan Mitchell tested positively.

Gobert was seen handing his game-worn arm sleeves to young fans Saturday, March 7 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, the Detroit Free Press reports.

It was also reported Gobert appeared to joke on Monday, March 9 about the coronavirus after an interview with reporters, making a point to touch all of their tape recorders and microphones.

Rudy Gobert joked about coronavirus, now he’s NBA’s Patient Zero

Though VanSlyke-Smith did not know which player the student was exposed to, Gobert was the only player to test positive Wednesday.

The student and sibling have no signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and are under self-quarantine, according to the district.

The student has not been tested, VanSlyke-Smith said. If he has symptoms they would typically show by Sunday or Monday.

After Gobert’s diagnosis, the NBA became the first pro sports organization in the U.S. to suspend play in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Gobert publicly apologized for being careless about the coronavirus in a social media post Thursday, March 11.

“The first and most important thing is I would like to publicly apologize to the people that I may have endangered," Gobert writes. "At the time, I had no idea I was even infected. I was careless and make no excuse. I hope my story serves as a warning and causes everyone to take this seriously. I will do whatever I can to support using my experience as way to educate others and prevent the spread of this virus.”

Classes at all Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools were canceled Friday due to the exposure.

All K-12 school buildings in Michigan will close March 16 through April 5 as the state seeks to address coronavirus, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced late Thursday.

Carman-Ainsworth Superintendent Eddie Kindle could not be immediately reached for comment.

More: Stay up to date on all of MLive’s coronavirus coverage

PREVENTION TIPS

Michigan’s State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips:

What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases:

For statewide and national information on the virus, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus or CDC.gov/Coronavirus.Read more on MLive:

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