Contrast for NPL clubs on COVID-19 test costs
Published:Friday | October 9, 2020 | 12:10 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Mount Pleasant Football Academy placed its players and staff in a biosecure environment at the weekend ahead of the start of the 2020-21 National Premier League season.
Mount Pleasant manager David Galloway said that COVID-19 tests were done at the weekend before entering a separate facility from their academy, where they will remain for the time being.
He said that because they wanted to operate in a safe environment, the decision was made to take on the task of testing themselves.
“We wanted to start our pre-season training, so we knew that for us to start, we had to ensure that all the players are fit and COVID free and ready to go, so we took the initiative to do it on our own and get our players together in one facility,” Galloway told The Gleaner.
Galloway confirmed that all players and staff tested negative for the virus before entering their biosecure environment.
The league is tentatively set to start on November 14, pending final approval of health protocols from the Ministry of Health and Wellness. As part of the protocols, approximately 600 players and staff were expected to receive COVID-19 tests on September 28. However, these tests have not been conducted.
SAFETY CONCERNS
With general testing for all league players and staff now tentative based on approval of health protocols, Tivoli Gardens head coach Philip Williams has raised concerns about how they will be safeguarded once testing is completed.
Williams says that Tivoli does not have the finances to have their own biosecure environment and says he wants clarity on how the players will be protected during the season.
“My concern is after they are tested, how are we going to keep them in a sterile environment, and that is one that other clubs may also have,” he said. “Because to get them tested right now is just to know whether they have it or not. What do we do after we get them tested?”
Galloway said that because of the negative test results, Mount Pleasant would be starting unit training in accordance with the local restrictions on group gatherings. He said that while they will take all necessary measures to protect their players and staff, he hopes that they will get assistance from the league for repeated testing throughout the campaign.
“We are hoping that at the end of the day, we will get the support back from the league itself,” he said. “But [for now], we just have to do what we have to do.”