The Fire announced Friday that a first-team player has tested positive for COVID-19.
Per a team statement, all other players and members of the club have returned consecutive negative tests. Their game Tuesday night against FC Cincinnati is still scheduled to take place.
Prior to this announcement, the Fire did not have any positive tests.
According to the Fire, the player is asymptomatic and self-isolated under a “strict and detailed” protocol. The unnamed player did not travel with the Fire for Thursday’s game at Columbus, and will stay in isolation until being cleared. The Fire medical staff is monitoring the player, and he is being tested daily.
“The MLS testing protocol has all MLS players undergo Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests every other day, including the day before each match,” the Fire said in a statement. “The confirmation of a positive COVID-19 case occurs when a player receives two consecutive positive test results. As a result of this confirmed positive test, the Fire will now begin daily testing of the entire first team and football staff. In addition, the team has implemented contact tracing.”
Earlier this month, Major League Soccer completed the MLS is Back tournament after a rocky start and has resumed its season in home markets. During a media availability Tuesday, Fire coach Raphael Wicky was asked about the precautions players are taking during the pandemic.
“I think the players know that they are responsible for their own and for others and they want to live a normal life but they also know they are athletes and they want to play, so certain things, they have to follow the rules,” Wicky said. “They have to avoid going into big crowds. They have to have social distancing and the masks and like I say, so far, we never had a positive test, so I think the team is doing well. But we have to keep doing that. We have to follow all the rules and be respectful of all that.”
