The Cincinnati Reds are still awaiting their latest round of results from their COVID-19 tests, but as reported by Jon Heyman of MLB Network, and added to by Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer, tests from Saturday came back negative on all of the players that were tested (which Nightengale clarified with his report that the 1 player who tested positive from Thursday – the test results came Friday night – was still positive). Heyman’s report from this morning was that Sunday’s tests were negative as well.
Reds all tested negative yesterday, too. Things looking better for return.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 17, 2020
We learned yesterday that the Reds and Pirates wouldn’t play a doubleheader later today, which was rumored to be a possibility at some point over the weekend. But according to a report from Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer, if the Reds tests come back negative on Monday afternoon with just the one positive player remaining positive, then the team should be cleared to begin their two-game series in Kansas City on Tuesday.
For now, it’s just a waiting game for the Cincinnati Reds and the Kansas City Royals. If and when the news comes out about the results and the status of the series we’ll have an update here.
New MLB COVID-19 protocol for returning
Jon Heyman had some more news this morning about Major League Baseball and COVID-19. He’s reporting that there is a new rule in place for when players who have tested positive can return to the field to play.
Players who have tested positive can apply to return to play 10 days later even if they continue to test positive. They will still need approval from an MLB joint committee.
This falls in line with CDC guidelines, which you can find here, that state the following:
For patients who are not severely immunocompromised1 and who were asymptomatic throughout their infection, Transmission-Based Precautions may be discontinued when at least 10 days have passed since the date of their first positive viral diagnostic test.
There is a little more to the guidelines than that, and those guidelines to change depending on the patient and their level of both sickness and immunocompromisation. Use the link to read more if you would like to.
That’s a change in the rule that a player must have two negative tests that were taken 24 hours apart to return to the field after he initially tested positive.
Just to be clear to anyone reading this comment – the player who has tested positive has not been identified.
No they have not. But, there hands are tied if a player does not want his name out there.
My question for you is? Why would a player not come out and say. I am the one. What do they have to hide? It’s obvious we know which player it is. Sounds like he had an “attitude” problem with it. I may be totally off base. Why not own it as a player? Why play games with the media? As soon as they play the next game, we will know by who is missing and roster moves. Just own it. Am I wrong?
We are all “flying blind”. Now we have to do contact tracing, be short players?? Really, go ahead and play—just without some of your best players.
I don’t think they play til next week.
I believe there is more to this story than any of us know at this point
This may get really ugly for our Reds.
UGH.
This is good news for the Reds. And maybe a wake up call too. Stay safe. Be smart. Don’t endanger your teammates, staff, friends or family. Oh and as a bonus, get to play more baseball.