A member of the Seattle Sounders support staff tested positive for COVID-19 this weekend. The staffer worked at CenturyLink Field during the Sounders’ match against the Columbus Crew March 7, but the club said the person did not have access to the general public at that time.
The staff member became ill four days after the match and spent gameday in restricted areas where they would not come into contact with fans and other attendees. The Sounders’ medical staff, infectious disease specialists and public health authorities determined the case did not present a risk to the Crew or the public because of this restricted contact.
The staff member did not return to club facilities between the match and their positive test, and is now under isolation protocol. The club said the individual has recovered from the illness and is in good spirits. No other cases have been found within the club at this time.
“In a situation like this, our aim is to provide as much information as possible in order to properly inform the public,” Sounders general manager Garth Lagerwey said. “We remain in constant communication with a number of regional and national health authorities, and based on the information we collectively have at this time, there is not felt to be a risk to any fans that attended our March 7 match at CenturyLink Field.”
The March 7 match took place as the coronavirus pandemic swept through the Seattle area. The first coronavirus death in the United States was reported in King County, which includes Seattle, on Feb. 29. By the following week, the county had logged almost 200 positive cases.
Since then, MLS has issued a 30-day suspension of all matches and a pause in training across the league through Friday. The Sounders are also implementing a social distancing policy by canceling all on-site media access.
Lagerwey used the moment to call for Sounders fans to support one another through the continued wake of the pandemic.
“Alongside public health authorities, we are actively monitoring this situation, and should new details emerge, we will continue proactively communicating with our community,” Lagerwey said. “These are trying times, and this is a good reminder for all of us to remain vigilant and to take care of one another.”