SEATTLE, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC today announced that a member of the club’s First Team staff has a confirmed case of COVID-19. All Sounders FC players and other members of the club’s technical and support staffs have returned multiple negative test results and do not have symptoms.
Upon receiving an initial positive test result on Thursday, the staff member immediately self-isolated and was placed into the necessary medical protocol. The individual is to remain in isolation until medically cleared and is being monitored daily by the club's medical staff. Additionally, Sounders FC has implemented the appropriate contact tracing procedures, while also closing the indoor portions of its Starfire Sports training facility. After shutting down operations entirely on Thursday, a modified training session is to take place today at Starfire Sports, entirely outdoors and under the direct supervision of Seattle Sounders FC medical personnel and in compliance with MLS protocol. Additionally, players and staff are to be tested daily in the near term.
The standard MLS testing protocol requires all MLS players to undergo Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests every other day, including the day before each match. The confirmation of a positive COVID-19 case occurs when an individual receives two consecutive positive test results.
Sounders FC does not play again until Tuesday, November 24, when the Rave Green face Los Angeles FC in Round One of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs (7:30 p.m. PT / ESPN, ESPN Deportes).
