The Boston Celtics announced Tuesday that Al Horford has tested positive for COVID-19. He is the second member of the Celtics to test positive for COVID this preseason, joining Jaylen Brown who tested positive on Friday. Horford's vaccination status is unclear.
If Horford is forced to miss 10 days, as others have after testing positive, then he will miss both the season opener in New York next Wednesday, and the home opener against Toronto next Friday. His status for those games has not yet officially been determined though.
Brown is expected to return and be available for the regular season.
The Celtics are not fully vaccinated as a team, and Brown has called each player's decision a "personal choice." Horford is now the third member of the Celtics to test positive for COVID-19 this preseason. Head coach Ime Udoka spent 10 days in quarantine after a positive diagnosis leading up to the first day of training camp.
Unvaccinated players are not allowed to leave their hotel rooms on the road except for basketball activities with the team. They are not allowed to participate in team events like team dinners, and they're also not allowed to be near teammates in the locker room.
The Celtics are in Orlando for their third preseason game tomorrow night. In addition to Horford and Brown missing the game, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, Dennis Schröder, and Josh Richardson are being given the night off to rest.