Major League Baseball and the MLBPA issued a joint press release Friday to announce the latest COVID-19 test results from around the sport through July 16. For the most part, it’s encouraging news that should further pave the way for the regular season to start as scheduled July 23.
The league collected 10,548 samples over the past week, but just six (0.05 percent) returned as new positives. Five of those came from players, the other from a staff member. There was also a five-day period in which no new positives were reported.
To date, the league has collected 17,949 monitoring samples and 23 new positives (18 players, five staff members), which equals 0.1 percent. When combining ongoing monitoring testing and intake screening that began June 27, there have been 93 positive tests (80 players) among 21,701 samples, which translates to 0.4 percent. Twenty-eight of the league’s 30 teams have had at least one positive.
This is good news, no?
Yes, it’s good news, but if one player gets this, and spreads it to just a handful of players in his clubhouse, that team could be effectively be done for the season.
Not necessarily. That’s why teams have a pool of up to 20 players who train at an alternate location.
Oh, they can play, but depending on the players, few teams can sustain loosing several key players for half the season at the same time.
losing
feel better @sesquiup?
Half a season or 10 days?
I’m glad the cases have dropped off and I’m finally committing to this shortened season.
This is positive news for sure.
Just a note that I think is important. Matt Theiss tested positive, had no symptoms, and it took him 21 days to be allowed on the field.
If a player gets this, even though he show no symptoms, he could miss half the season.
Yep. That’s why they are taking precautions.
True, but I’ve been asking for awhile if anyone had any idea how much time a player might miss.
He’s the only one I know who has given the amount of days, from first test to last, he was shelved.
If others have more examples, I would love to know about them.
Jesus Luzardo was diagnosed July 7th and has tested negative obviously twice in a row and is back at summer camp July 17th. So for him no more than 10 days – I guess the 14 day quarantine period is a figment of some people’s imagination. Just sayin’
I don’t think mlb has a minimum quarantine. You see that article about the Nationals considering not playing in DC because they have a mandatory 14 day quarantine for positives. I think for them 2 days of negative tests and they’re clear, whether its been 7 days or 21 days. I mean that’s suppose to be the point of testing right? Once you’re clear you can enter. I think 14 day quarantines are more guidelines for people that don’t have access to testing.
He was tested July 7th but do you have any idea how long he had the virus before being tested?
Doug Dueck: he tested positive on July 7th therefore he could have had the virus for many days before the test. 14 days is just safest protocol for people who aren’t getting tested like MLB players are. Once they receive two (maybe 3) negative tests then they can rejoin the squad, regardless of how long it took.
14 days is old protocol. It is used when you can’t test. Two negatives in 24 hours after fever and/or symptoms disappear.
good to see low numbers
Very nice!
That’s some positive news. I have a lot more confidence in everything going somewhat smooth now.
*no pun intended with the “positive news” part just to be clear
Even better (for the A’s at least):
Jesus Luzardo is cleared to return to play, will be practicing in the Coliseum today.
It seems obvious we will now have a season. I think if the league can clear the next hurdle–testing players after traveling and playing opposing team–then we should be alright for 60 games. We’ve shown things are going well under controlled environments, I just hope it continues when players travel.
From what I understand, the Angels are giving each player their own luxury box suite to separate from other players.
107,242, through this post.
Hello Mr. Troll Following me?
Have an ax to grind clepto? Little grudge?
you’re mental dude
Well… it’s encouraging. I’m now optimistic that they’ll start the season. I can’t call myself optimistic that they’ll get safely to the finish line. But maybe I’m a *little* less pessimistic.
Ya , but aren’t those percentages a little misleading. Are there 20,000 people that have been tested , or 20,000 test given. And if they’re only counting new positives in the samples, it sounds like if a player tests negative 5 times, all those test are added to the total. If a player test positive 5 times, only the first positive is counted. But I guess if you estimate each team has 200 personnel (guessing this might be generous) that have been tested, those 93 positives would still only be 1.5% of personnel which is a pretty accurate description of the population as a whole right now.
Even with these numbers it just looks like it will be difficult to have a 60 game season. Anyone have thoughts on a 60 game season?
With the caveat baseball had to wrap up by the end of October and to prevent the spread, there should be an off day between every series, I think 60 is too long.
I hope they get this right, but has anybody?
I watched the Phillies, Mets, Giants, and Dodgers last night. In every team there were less than half of the players wearing masks even in the dugouts. Nice to be young and healthy I guess and not worry about contagion. And I know from experience what a nasty thing it is to breath through a mask while very active. But still, it’s like walking on a tightrope without a net.
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The number of tests given really skews the actual statistical data here. There are a total of 1,800 players who get tested (30 teams x 60 players per team) of which 900 will be on the opening day roster. 80 players have tested positive so far. Out of the full, 1,800 player pool this means that 4.44% of players have tested positive. IF all players who tested positive were to be on the 30 man roster, this jumps to 8.88%; however that is probably unlikely. A reasonable assumption is that between 5-6% of MLB roster players have tested positive for the virus so far. This means that teams need to remain vigilant in their testing and immediately pull positive players off the field and perform contract tracing too. Once the season starts, these players are going to be much closer to one another from a physical distancing perspective, so I wouldn’t necessarily say this is positive news just yet. Let’s all hope they can keep this at or below the 5% positive rate (about 1-2 players per team). If this increases to 10-15% then the league might have to consider pressing the pause button. Fingers crossed they can keep a lid on this and keep the vast majority of players healthy.
In simpler words, if they test 10 players 100 times each and one test is a confirmed positive, then their testing percentage of positive cases is only 0.1%. However, this also means that 10% of the players have tested positive (1 out of 10). So the only stat that really matters is the number of positive cases they find, regardless of how many tests they perform.
It would be even better if they released stats on how many players are currently out due to positive COVID tests. While 80 players have tested positive to date, it seems like at least 1/2 of those players have overcome it and are back with their teams. An active cases count would be very helpful to get the true picture of where they currently are in regards to COVID absences and which teams are affected the most by it.
Really, it doesn’t matter much at all who tested positive at intake. The numbers that really matter are how many test positive since being within the protocol. Those numbers are pretty good anyway you slice it. The real test is what happens when they travel and play other teams. There will be positives, how many is the question. In general, I think they can make this work if everyone follows protocols