MLB Postpones Games Amid COVID-19 Outbreak
The Miami Marlins' home opener against the Baltimore Orioles was postponed, along with the New York Yankees game at the Philadelphia Phillies, after 11 players and two coaches on the Marlins tested positive for COVID-19. The league is holding games without fans and has banned certain player interactions to try to limit outbreaks, but the outbreak among players and staff highlights the difficulty of bringing large groups together during a pandemic.
Key Takeaways:
- 11 Miami Marlins players and 2 coaches tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the postponement of two games.
- The Marlins' home opener against the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees game at the Philadelphia Phillies have been rescheduled.
- MLB is holding games without fans and has banned high-fives, fist-bumps, and spitting among players to try to limit outbreaks.
- Contact tracing of Miami's opponents shows how quickly the virus might spread through the league, with several teams having played against the Marlins recently.
- The outbreak among players and staff underscores the difficulty of bringing large groups together during a pandemic, especially in areas with high transmission rates.
- Miami-Dade County recently surpassed 100,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, and the city has been one of the epicenters of the virus in recent weeks.
- MLB's 60-game season was delayed from its usual April opening due to the pandemic and is now being played without fans.
Statistics:
- 11: the number of Marlins players who tested positive for COVID-19
- 2: the number of Marlins coaches who tested positive for COVID-19
- 100,000: the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Miami-Dade County
- 60: the number of games in MLB's abbreviated season
- 0: the number of fans allowed to attend MLB games
Sources:
- ESPN (no specific date mentioned)
- CNN headline and initial paragraph
- MLB press release (no specific date mentioned)
- Miami-Dade County Health Department (no specific date mentioned)