Positive COVID-19 cases, inclement weather due to ‘Quinta’ force PFL to postpone kickoff

The Philippine Football League (PFL) has decided to postpone its season opener slated for Sunday, expecting inclement weather due to Tropical Depression “Quinta,” and for recording positive cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in its bubble.

In a statement, the league said at least five players tested positive for COVID-19 with the RT-PCR/swab test prior to their entry in the league’s bubble in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

“RT PCR/swab tests were conducted on 16 and 21 October 2020 prior to their entry to the league’s ‘bubble’ in Seda Nuvali in Santa Rosa, Laguna. Five players and one coach, among two clubs, tested positive in the RT-PCR tests conducted on 21 October 2020. They had to be isolated,” said the statement.

“Further tests were conducted on those with close contacts on these persons last Saturday, 24 October 2020 and three returned positive,” it added.

League commissioner Coco Torre said health measures were in place in the bubble to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“We have anticipated this scenario hence there is a set of health and safety protocols in place for incidents such as this. What is important is that all continue to adhere with the protocols which are aimed to prevent or minimize the spread of the virus. Upon checking, we have confirmed that those who tested positive admitted had a close contact with the player who was first to test positive,” Torre said in a statement.

Last Wednesday, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) also reported a positive case of COVID-19 in its bubble in Pampanga after a game official tested positive in the mandatory swab test.

Hours later, the basketball league said it may be a “false positive case” after an antigen test Wednesday afternoon yielded a negative result.

Regarding the PBA’s case, the Department of Health on Thursday said an RT-PCR test should have been administered instead of an antigen test to confirm whether the game official is positive for COVID-19.

The said referee is now under quarantine.

On top of the COVID-19 cases, PFL said weather conditions brought by Quinta may disrupt the games to be played in the Philippine Football Federation training center in Carmona, Cavite, forcing them to postpone the league’s kickoff.

PAGASA, in its 5 p.m. bulletin, said tropical cyclone warning signal no. 1 may be raised in Cavite and nearby areas in their next update. – Justin Kenneth Carandang/RC, GMA News