Inter Miami player tests positive for COVID-19. Here are the details
An Inter Miami player tested positive for COVID-19 following a round of mandatory testing this week, the club announced Thursday night.
“Inter Miami’s medical staff is working directly with local infectious disease specialists to treat the player, who was asymptomatic and has been observing isolation protocols since he self-identified being in close contact with an individual who showed mild symptoms during a health screening questionnaire administered daily to players,” the club said in a statement.
The player was not named. Atlanta United also announced on Thursday that one of its “first-team” players tested positive for the coronavirus with no additional staff or players testing positive. The player was asymptomatic and has been observing isolation protocol since the result. Two other MLS players -- one from FC Dallas, the other from Philadelphia Union -- had tested positive earlier this spring.
Inter Miami began full-squad training last week at its Fort Lauderdale training facility and players were being tested every other day. The team is scheduled to resume its season on July 8 against Orlando City in the opening match of the league-wide tournament at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando.
All 26 teams are scheduled to convene in Orlando and be sequestered at the Swan and Dolphin resort.
The World Cup-style tournament will format will include three group games followed by a knockout round, and culminating with the championship game on Aug. 11. After that, the league is hoping to return to each team’s home markets.
Inter Miami continues to work in close consultation with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, local health authorities and Major League Soccer regarding testing and training guidelines, as well as with adhering to proper physical distancing and sanitization protocols in its facilities during team activities.
This story was originally published June 18, 2020 at 10:47 PM.