Chicago Bears schedule practice after earlier closing facility following fourth positive COVID-19 test this week

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears, after pausing all in-person football activities earlier Thursday because someone in their building had tested positive for COVID-19, have now scheduled a practice for later in the afternoon.

The team released an updated Thursday schedule that has them practicing at 2:30 pm CT at Halas Hall. The team released no other statement.

A number of Bears players and coaches were inside Halas Hall early Thursday morning when the team learned of the positive test -- the team's fourth since Monday. The Bears immediately sent players and staff home and shifted to virtual meetings.

"Obviously, we're not exempt from this pandemic," Bears coach Matt Nagy said on a hastily arranged Zoom call. "We all know that cases are on the rise. And I just want to credit our players and coaches for adapting and staying flexible. It's not easy. But we have the right mindset. I think that our guys showed that this morning with being able to adapt on short notice."

The 42-year-old Nagy had left open the possibility of holding some type of practice Thursday, depending on whether the Bears receive the necessary medical clearance from the league.

Three practice squad players -- defensive tackle LaCale London, linebacker Manti Te'o and wide receiver Thomas Ives -- were moved to the reserve/COVID-19 list this week after confirmed positive tests.

Nagy does not believe -- based on preliminary information -- that the latest positive test is related to any of the three active practice squad cases.

"We realize that we've had a few positive cases last week, so we just felt like right now this is our decision to just say, 'You know what? Let's just hit the pause button for right now,'" Nagy said earlier Thursday. "Let's not put any of our players, coaches, staff at any type of risk.

"Shoot, we've been doing Zoom meetings for weeks and weeks and really this whole season. Let's continue to stick with our meetings via Zoom. And once we get more information ... then we'll get right back to it."

The Bears (5-7) are scheduled to host the Houston Texans (4-8) on Sunday, and Nagy said it is too soon to tell whether the game will be affected.

"I think in regards to [the game], that just hasn't come up," Nagy said. "I think we're trying to get through this here. But that has not been brought up or talked about."