Some more USL Championship COVID-19 schedule interruptions to report: an outbreak amongst LA Galaxy II players has led to three matches postponed in the past and down the road, but other teams report success welcoming fans back to the stadium.
First: the LA Galaxy II match vs. San Diego Loyal SC scheduled for July 29 at was been postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date. The issue: 11 “covered persons” tested positive for COVID-19 following the weekly testing.
Following that, the scheduled match on Friday, Aug. 7 between Orange County SC and LA Galaxy II was postponed. Same issue: the league was acting out of care after the initial COVID-19 tests.
And, finally, the Aug. 12 scheduled match between LA Galaxy II and Phoenix Rising FC has been postponed to Wednesday, August 19 at 5 p.m. ET.
All in all, 446 tests were administered to players and club staff from the 11 League One clubs between July 20th and July 27th with three individuals testing positive from one team.
Those players or club staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate in line with the guidelines provided by the USL and only those who have tested negative will be permitted to enter training ground facilities. Anyone identified via contact tracing will also be quarantined and tested.
Though there have been issues with LA Galaxy II, other teams report success in welcoming fans back to stadiums, following local guidelines for crowds. USL Championship returned to action early, and Louisville City accommodated bigger crowds — relatively speaking — at Lynn Family Stadium. Officials there are pleased with the COVID-19 mitigation measures employed by the team, according to WAVE 3 News:
Louisville City FC has been handling thousands of fans successfully at Lynn Family Stadium since the first soccer game was played there on July 12. The club maintains that bringing fans back has worked only because they’re sticking to strict safety guidelines.
LouCity FC in Lynn Family Stadium became one of the first in the nation to bring back its fans to watch a sporting event live. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear approved the LouCity FC reopening plan in late June. With the first game played in the new show-stopper July 12.
“There was a little bit of a relief and some celebration because we knew we were opening this new stadium and it was the end of a journey and really a beginning of a new chapter,” said Jonathan Lintner, Louisville City FC Communications and PR Director.
Photo courtesy Louisville City.
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