CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati learned today that for the first time a first team player has been confirmed positive for COVID-19. All other players and members of the club have returned negative test results and do not have symptoms.
Upon receipt of the initial positive result, the player, who is symptomatic, self-isolated under a strict and detailed protocol. The player will remain in isolation until medically cleared and will be monitored by the club’s medical staff and tested daily.
The MLS testing protocol has all MLS players undergo Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests every other day, including the day before each match. The confirmation of a COVID-19 case occurs when a player receives two consecutive positive test results. As a result of this confirmed positive test, the club will now begin daily testing of all close contacts within the first team and soccer staff. In addition, the team has implemented contact tracing in conjunction with Hamilton and Clermont County health officials.
As a standard Major League Soccer and FC Cincinnati protocol, all areas of the facility are cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis. Given the positive test result on the FCC First Team, an even more thorough disinfecting procedure was executed in the last 48 hours.
FC Cincinnati remain scheduled to play New York City FC this evening.
