San Francisco Giants close spring training facility amid coronavirus fears
After both the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays temporarily closed their spring training facilities due to concerns regarding the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the San Francisco Giants took similar measures ahead of the weekend.
Friday afternoon, The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly reported that the Giants closed the club's spring training home of Scottsdale Stadium after somebody showed "mild" COVID-19 symptoms.
Test results for that person and all exposed individuals were still pending as of early Friday evening:
The busiest coronavirus-related day to hit American sports since the NBA suspended play on March 11 began with the Phillies confirming at least five players and three coaches tested positive while in Clearwater, Florida, this week. The Blue Jays followed the Phillies and closed facilities after one Toronto player reported virus symptoms.
A domino effect continued throughout the afternoon. TSN's Bob McKenzie reported that the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning experienced a coronavirus outbreak. Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun wrote that Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews was quarantining at his Arizona home after testing positive. The PGA Tour confirmed Nick Watney withdrew from this weekend's RBC Heritage after he tested positive.
An unnamed San Francisco 49ers player and 28 Clemson student-athletes, including 23 football players, also all returned positive COVID-19 results.
Meanwhile, MLB owners and the MLB Players Association still have no agreement to start the season amid the uncontrolled virus outbreak. Earlier this week, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the two parties could announce July 19 as Opening Day if they put pen to paper on a plan before the end of today, but that seems unlikely.
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