Chicago Bears Close Halas Hall Due To Positive Coronavirus Test

LAKE FOREST, IL — The Chicago Bears closed Halas Hall Thursday morning and sent players home after team officials learned of the squad's latest positive coronavirus test.

The news comes two days after tackle Jason Spriggs tested positive for the coronavirus and was placed on the team's COVID-19 list. Fellow offensive lineman Germain Ifedi was also placed on the list and quarantined after being determined to be a close contact. He has not tested positive.

In a statement, Bears representatives said the health and safety of players and staff were the team's highest priority.

"This morning we were notified that another Bears player has tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, the club has decided to pause all in-person football activities and close Halas Hall," team officials said. "Today's practice has been canceled and all meetings will be conducted virtually."

Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy told reporters in a Thursday afternoon video teleconference that the team was still awaiting confirmation of the positive test. He said he was not a close contact that might need to be quarantined but said he was unable to specify how many other people might be.

"The player who tested positive and all close contacts have been contacted and have already begun self-isolation," the team's statement continued. "We will continue to work closely with the NFL medical experts and follow the league's intensive protocol."

Reporter Adam Jahns of The Athletic first reported the news on social media, describing it as a "very fluid situation." The NFL Network identified the second player who tested positive as center Cody Whitehair. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, he would be the third Bears player to test positive for the coronavirus.

Nearly two dozen players and staff on the Bears' next scheduled opponent, the Tennessee Titans, tested positive for the virus earlier this year in the league's worst COVID-19 outbreak so far. It led to canceled games and could result in fines for the team, though the Titans will not have to forfeit results or draft picks.

The Bears are scheduled to travel to play in Nashville Sunday. No announcement has been made about any changes to that plan.