Boyz ready for Bermuda despite coronavirus fears

Reggae Boyz team manager, Roy Simpson, does not expect the international friendly between Jamaica and the Bermuda national team on Wednesday at the Montego Bay Sports Complex to be postponed by the coronavirus outbreak.

“We will continue to consult our medical committee led by Dr (Guyan) Arscott, who will continue to update and advise us. But as it is today, there are no threats. We liaise with our Bermudian counterparts and the list of players they have sent us, we are confident they would have done their necessary checks,” said Simpson.

“But based on our end, everything is in place and at the port of entry that is where the decision of admission into the country will be made by immigration with the health ministry,” he added.

“If the Bermudians come with anybody that shows any symptoms and personnel at the airport check and they are found to have symptoms of the virus, then the protocol will apply,” said Simpson.

It is also believed that some fans will stay away from the game because of the fears, but while Simpson understands patrons’ caution, he thinks that so far, the health ministry has kept it at bay and have put in place all the necessary measures to keep locals safe.

“That (patrons staying away) is a factor we have taken into consideration, because everybody is concerned, everybody is taking preventative measures and we just hope that based on the fact that we have no confirmed cases in Jamaica, our supporters should understand that based on reports coming out of the Ministry of Health and from health officials, they should not (stay away).

“It would have been a different scenario if we had identified cases here and have to avoid public spaces and public gathering, but as far as we are concerned, based on the advice we get it, is quite safe. But we understand that everybody is on edge because of it (virus),” he commented.

Meanwhile, Simpson says coach Theodore Whitmore and his squad remain focused and ready for the contest next week.

“I don’t think it has affected their preparation or their mindset. Yes, it is a concern because our players are parents and they have relatives but most are staying positive for this (game).

“We, as a federation, have implemented a hygiene protocol and we have increasingly emphasised the washing of hands and other practices and if there are any players feeling any thing related to any symptoms related to the virus, we ask them to report themselves. But we keep monitoring the situation and act based on the medical staff’s advice,” Simpson said.