Coronavirus Update: David Sands Becomes the First Prominent Poker Pro to Test Positive For Covid-19

David Sands
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  • Namita Ghosh March 23, 2020
  • 2 Minutes Read

Even as we enter the final week of March, the entire world remains hostage to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) threat. The pandemic that started in December last year has already affected close to 341,000 people worldwide and claimed 14,700 lives. By Monday morning, the number of Indian residents who had tested positive for the virus had jumped to 418, with the death toll in the country climbing to eight.

The U.S. is one of the majorly affected countries affected by the Coronavirus outbreak. According to CNN, the country has reported a total of 34,354 cases to-date that includes 414 deaths. With the increasing threat of COVID-19, many businesses across the world have either stopped operations or have employees working from home.

A majority of poker players are on self-quarantine as encouraged by the state bodies to practice social distancing. Despite this, with the number of cases rising, it was inevitable that cases of Coronavirus infection would invariably start getting reported among the poker community. In what comes as the first case of a prominent poker pro to be infected by COVID-19, American pro David ‘Doc’ Sands (cover image) has come out publicly to declare that he has tested positive for Coronavirus.

Sands took to Twitter late night on Sunday and explained what had happened over a series of tweets.

I was diagnosed with Covid-19 last night…” Sands said.

According to the Hendon Mob database, 35-year old Sands holds the world record for maximum Sunday major victories – a massive eight title wins. If he has more than $1.6 Million in online winnings alone, his total live earnings go beyond a jaw-dropping $8.45 Million. His illustrious resume boasts of prestigious live titles like the 2013 WPT World Championship $100K Super High Roller and the 2014 Aria Super High Roller 5 $10K Championship.

 

How Sands Got Infected

Sands has, in his tweets, pointed out that he can’t say how and from whom he caught the virus.

I have no idea how I got the virus,” Sands said, underlining how he had been extra cautious. Moreover, he claims to not only have discontinued going to the gym but he apparently also wore gloves and mask during public outings while continuing to remain ‘paranoid’ about keeping clean.

He narrated, “On Monday evening, I was a bit fatigued and started feeling sinus pressure which developed into a severe headache. On Tuesday morning I woke up with one of the worst headaches I’ve ever had…. I also had a touch of post-nasal drip and a very occasional (maybe 5x/day) cough. But I didn’t think I had COVID-19 since I didn’t have a fever or shortness of breath, which in addition to a cough are the two primary symptoms according to the CDC website.”

Sands went on to explain how he called his doctor, who said he didn’t need to get tested. When he didn’t start feeling better, Sands eventually insisted on getting tested. It turned out to be the right decision since he tested positive for COVID-19.

Sands talked about the precautions he’d been taking before discovering he had contracted the virus, including him and his family going into complete quarantine.

 

Sands’ tweet sent the poker community in a spin. Six-time bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu was among the pros to react.

Others like Erik Seidel, Todd Brunson, and Jennifer Tilly wished him a speedy recovery.

 

The fact that Sands has tested positive for COVID-19 reminds us of just how vulnerable each one of us is to this contagious virus. Currently, the situation may seem contained in India. Still, if the outbreak snowballs into more significant proportions as it has in Europe and the U.S., similar stories could likely emerge from the domestic poker community as well.

Under such trying circumstances, we urge all our readers to exercise caution, follow the restrictions, and the guidelines suggested by the WHO and the respective state governments. Stay indoors and stay safe!

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