Saints, Pelicans owner Gayle Benson tests positive for coronavirus

METAIRIE, La. — New Orleans Saints and Pelicans operator Gayle Benson tested constructive for the coronavirus and is “progressing nicely and increasing everyday” in her restoration, in accordance to workforce spokesman Greg Bensel.

“She was not hospitalized and is recovering at residence,” Bensel explained in a statement, noting that Benson “has not missed a everyday operate connect with with Saints and Pelicans workers, nor has she missed an NBA or NFL operator connect with in recent days.

“She thanks everyone for their ideas and prayers,” Bensel explained.

Benson, seventy three, attended observe earlier in instruction camp just before testing constructive for the virus at some position in the past pair of weeks. She was in no way keeping at the workforce resort in downtown New Orleans.

So much in instruction camp, 3 Saints players have tested constructive — but all 3 had been explained as “bogus positives,” with players swiftly becoming eliminated from the reserve/COVID-19 listing. The Saints designed an optional bubble-like ambiance at the downtown Loews resort all through camp, with Benson paying the hefty expense to lease out 4 floors for their private use. Mentor Sean Payton believed that about one hundred fifty of a hundred and eighty associates of the firm would keep there.

Payton also tested constructive for the coronavirus in the spring, although he recovered swiftly with fairly minor signs and symptoms.

Benson is not the very first NFL or NBA operator to examination constructive. Arizona Cardinals operator Michael Bidwill recovered from the virus in July, and New York Knicks operator James Dolan recovered from the virus in the spring.