COVID-19 test results haven’t come in at an acceptable rate for several Major League Baseball teams early in Summer Camp. The slow process has negatively affected the Athletics, Angels, Astros and Nationals, though MLB expressed confidence Monday that it won’t be an issue going forward.
For its part, the MLBPA sent a memo to player agents Monday saying that it and the league are “actively pursuing an additional medical lab site to increase the speed and efficiency of test processing and reporting,” Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic tweets.
It’s a common-sense move to work to expedite the process of receiving test results, considering the season is supposed to start in under three weeks and players are expected to undergo testing every day. A player who tests positive for the coronavirus is required to quarantine for two weeks, and he must test negative twice and exhibit no symptoms before he’s able to rejoin his team. With only 60 games scheduled for each club this regular season, it’s all the more crucial for everyone involved to find out test results as quickly as possible.
