Monitoring the Boyz - JFF keeping tabs on overseas-based ­players amid virus outbreak

Reggae Boyz team manager Roy Simpson says that the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is taking all the necessary preventive measures and ensuring that its players, particularly those based overseas, are fully educated about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Simpson also noted that players based in affected areas could be placed in quarantine upon their return to the island, sharing that the matter was discussed at a meeting on Tuesday involving the JFF hierarchy and staff and the federation’s medical consultant, Dr Guyan Arscott.

The deadly virus has been causing havoc across the globe and had accounted for nearly 3,500 deaths worldwide up to yesterday. There have so far been no recorded cases in Jamaica.

“We have made checks on them (the players) to make sure that they are OK, but remember, when they are playing for their respective clubs, they operate within that jurisdiction, and so we don’t have much control over what they do,” said Simpson.

A number of the country’s top footballers ply their trade in Europe and North America, where the virus has been spreading rapidly over the past few weeks. Sixteen national players currently play in Europe, which has 5,920 cases up to yesterday, while 17 current players feature in the United States, which has 209 cases and 12 deaths to date.

Star winger Leon Bailey currently represents Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, which has recorded over 540 cases of the virus.

POTENTIAL QUARANTINE

In the United Kingdom, where several of the Reggae Boyz are also playing, the first death from the virus was recorded yesterday.

Simpson noted that the JFF has been in ­contact with the ­players, ­touching on the process of them returning to the country from affected areas, including a ­potential quarantine.

“What we do, we reach out to them to ensure that they are aware of what is happening, and most of them are in a professional environment, and so they understand what is happening around them,” Simpson said.

“I think if we were to have a game in Jamaica now, and we are going to bring in those players from Europe, being Jamaicans, we can’t deny them entry. But what came out of our meeting on Tuesday was that there are certain protocols that have been ­established at the ports of entry that they will go through when they arrive here. I think if they need to be quarantined, then they will be,” Simpson said.

Of note, 20 persons have so far tested positive for the virus in Catalonia, who the Reggae Boyz are scheduled to play in a friendly international on March 30.

Simpson said that they are currently monitoring the situation in Catalonia and that a decision will be made on the game in short order.

“We are watching the situation because there are no travel restrictions on Spain, and so the Ministry of Health will continue to update us, so as we speak, everything is in place for this game to happen,” Simpson said.

The Reggae Boyz are also scheduled to play Bermuda in a friendly international on March 11 at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.