Toronto Raptors forward Chris Boucher has apologised after breaking a team-mandated self-quarantine after the Raptors were exposed – in game play – to several NBA players who tested positive for COVID-1.
Boucher was seen shopping in downtown Toronto on Thursday, just one day after the Raptors began their quarantine period.
He was spotted wearing gloves but no mask.
“A few days ago, I broke our team mandated self-quarantine,” Boucher wrote on social media. “I want to apologize to the city of Toronto, our fans and the Raptors organization. While I have tested negative for COVID-19, it was never my intention to endanger our community. I recognize my mistake and have remained self-quarantined since. Let’s stay safe Toronto.”
While all Raptors players, coaches and travelling staff tested negative for COVID-19, Boucher’s outing was before the test results arrived, according to The Athletic’s Blake Murphy.
Boucher’s Raptors played the Utah Jazz not long before Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell tested positive for COVID-19.
Gobert was the first of three players to test positive for the virus, and his diagnosis sent the NBA into lockdown almost immediately.
Detroit Pistons big man Christian Wood is the only other NBA player to be diagnosed with COVID-19 so far.