Tampa Bay Rays Taking Precaution with Coronavirus Confirmed in Tampa

The Tampa Bay Rays are playing in Sarasota today and are taking precautions against the contagious virus.

Sarasota, FLA – The Tampa Bay Rays are in Manatee county to play the Baltimore Orioles. The team has a little more to worry about than the game at hand.

Two people in the Tampa Bay area tested positive for the coronavirus as announced by the health officials on Sunday. One patient is from Hillsborough County while the other is from Manatee County. The woman from Hillsborough County is in her 20s and had recently visited Northern Italy, which had an outbreak. 

The team sent out a memo this morning encouraging players and staff to wash hands often and discouraged high-fiving and shaking hands with other players and fans. The memo also served as a reminder to keep the clubhouse and belongings disinfected.

The virus began spreading in China and has since affected people in several other countries, including South Korea. Ji-Man Choi is a native of South Korea and has asked all Korean media members to conduct interviews outside of the clubhouse.

The coronavirus has infected 90,000 people worldwide and 96 Americans. Of the 96 infected Americans, five have died.

FEMA is preparing for a potential infectious disease emergency declaration over the coronavirus in the United States.

All baseball teams should be taking proper precautions. The coronavirus is highly contagious and spreading. With two cases confirmed in an area where several teams play their spring training games, all teams should be on high alert.

A clubhouse has players in close proximity with one another and viruses tend to spread quickly around the locker room.

The Tampa Bay Rays are in Manatee County today to play the Orioles and again tomorrow against the Braves. They’ll be back in Port Charlotte for two straight on Wednesday and Thursday.