Atlanta United manager Frank de Boer said no one from the team has tested positive for COVID-19 since its arrival in Orlando on July Fourth.
Two players tested positive before the team left for Florida. Both were diagnosed as asymptomatic by the team. One of the players recovered and traveled with the team. The other hasn’t yet rejoined the team. A player must test negative twice to be able to rejoin training.
Atlanta United will begin play in the MLS tournament Saturday. It will play New York Red Bulls at 8 p.m.
De Boer said personnel has been tested three times since arriving in central Florida. Teams are staying in the same resort in Orlando to try to better insulate everyone from receiving or spreading the virus.
“I think that way we are feeling safe,” he said. “The safety measures are here to make us feel safe.”
The league Monday made FC Dallas withdraw after 10 players and another member of the team tested positive. De Boer speculated that the team was contaminated before it arrived in Florida. On Tuesday, the league rescheduled Nashville’s opening game against Chicago in the tournament from July 8 to a date to be announced. Five Nashville players have tested positive since it arrived in Orlando. Four players have received inconclusive test results.
“MLS, the hotel and Disney are doing everything possible to make us feel at home and safe,” de Boer said. “What I see from our players, they don’t look concerned. It looks OK right now.”
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