NYCFC Player is Covic-19 Positive

By Sean McCaffery, October 24, 2020

First he is asymptomatic and all others team and staff are testing negative as recent as yesterday. This email was sent out at 5:46 p.m.  as the result of a test that was known in the morning by their own admission. Those going to the game, press etc. who may have a concern, underlying ailment & what not are well on their way as they may get in to the building 44 minutes after the email was put out, possibly more than 6 hours after this was known. The player of course was not named, I do expect it to come out. Some will attend the game having no idea of this development. Now I am glad I was not credentialed as was a writer, I would not have gone and would have caused a stink about it for not being given enough notice if I was.

This is not acceptable, it is game day, some are going there, they are being denied the opportunity to not make the trip to them if they are fearful of anything. They have effectively removed the freedom of choice as many myself included do not get notified of emails as they come in to my phone, 50+ a day not a chance. It is a 2.5 hour travel time for me each way, 5 hours and no game, no good.

These PCR tests are administered to all MLS players every other day, and the day before games. A pair of positives as in this case, confirms the case of the virus. They have been very fortunate to not have had any other cases since the MIB games that I am aware of. He is as per local and MLS rules in self-isolation and watched by the team's medical people following an exacting system. Contact tracing is ongoing.

Their game is set to kickoff with Montreal at 7:30, pregame at 7.

We at Soccer Long Island Magazine with the player a full and compete recovery and that he stays asymptomatic.

Update: They all but opened the pregame with this information, stating it was known about an hour before.

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