'Put my family at risk': Aron Baynes details virus nightmare
Aron Baynes has described the pain and fear he felt after testing positive for COVID-19 and then discovering the virus had spread to his wife and young children.
Baynes tested positive at his home in Arizona more than 30 days ago, but under the NBA's strict protocols he is still yet to be cleared to join the Phoenix Suns in the league's "bubble" in Orlando, Florida.
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The Australian big man told The Athletic on Wednesday the virus hit him hard and he immediately isolated himself in a section of his home.
His wife Rachel left food outside the door for him.
"It actually put me on my butt for a good week," Baynes said.
"I slept for four days straight."
His biggest fear was spreading the virus to his wife and two young children, but that soon became a reality.
Their symptoms, however, were not as severe.
"That was the scariest time for me because I was also putting my family at risk at that point," Baynes, describing the moment he first tested positive, said.
"They were exposed to it at a later point so they didn't get it at the same time as me."
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Baynes said he has not touched a basketball in more than 30 days and only had his first high-intensity workout involving sprints on Wednesday at his home in Phoenix.
"My family is all testing negative now, but I am still not," he said.
"I have antibodies so am not contagious, but I still need those negatives because that is the criteria the NBA has set up."
Arizona is one of America's hardest COVID-19 hit states and Baynes urged people to wear masks in public to prevent the spread of the virus.
The Suns play a scrimmage against Joe Ingles' Utah Jazz on Thursday in Orlando and his team's first regular season game is against the Washington Wizards on July 31.
"I'm contained within the four walls of my house, but I am doing everything I can on a daily basis to get ready," Baynes said.
"As soon as we get the two negative tests I'll get on a plane to Orlando as quick as I can and be a part of the group again."
