A worker at CenturyLink Field has tested positive for coronavirus. The part-time staffer worked at the Seattle Dragons game on Feb. 22.
King County health officials said "risk to fans who attended is low." No extra precautions are advised for healthy fans who were at the stadium that day.
The stadium's hospitality company said the employee did not show symptoms for coronavirus on Feb. 22 and has not been onsite since.
The health department is following up with co-workers of the affected employee to provide guidance. The worker was a vendor with First & Goal Hospitality, which has operated at CenturyLink Field since 2017.
At this point, all of Seattle's professional sporting events will proceed as scheduled. King County leaders said the teams are working with health officials and their respective leagues to foster safe environments for fans.
Public Health - Seattle & King County advised that "people at higher risk for severe illness should stay home and away from larger groups of people as much as possible. Those at higher risk include people over the age of 60, anyone with underlying health conditions, people with weakened immune systems or those who are pregnant."
The Seattle Sounders said the match planned for Saturday, March 7 is still proceeding as planned.
The Seattle Dragons are a new XFL team in their first season. XFL President and COO Jeffrey Pollack released the following statement Thursday, "The health and safety of the extended XFL family – especially our fans in Seattle – is of the utmost importance. We share everyone’s concern about this public health issue and understand it is evolving on a daily basis."
First & Goal issued the following statement regarding the affected worker:
A part-time employee of CenturyLink Field has tested positive for COVID-19/Coronavirus. The last time the employee worked at CenturyLink Field was on February 22. The employee did not show symptoms at that time and has not been onsite since. We are actively working with local and federal health agencies as well as league offices (NFL, MLS, XFL) on the latest recommendations and guidelines to ensure the safest environment possible for our guests and staff. CenturyLink Field has implemented heightened sanitation procedures and processes, including enhanced cleaning treatments to disinfect all areas of the stadium before and after every event, additional hand sanitizing stations, and continued staff training and education. Public Health - Seattle & King County has determined this to be a low risk of infection for patrons at the game.Any further questions can be directed to Public Health – Seattle & King County.Thank you.
What are coronavirus symptoms?
The symptoms of coronavirus are similar to the flu or colds. Symptoms include a fever, cough, and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, according to the Washington State Department of Health.
The severity of symptoms ranges significantly. Some cases are very mild with symptoms similar to the common cold, and some cases are more like severe pneumonia that require hospitalization. Most deaths have been reported in older adults who had other health conditions, according to DOH.
Symptoms may appear as soon as two days after being exposed to the coronavirus or as long as 14 days.
A new Washington call center has been set up to answer your questions about COVID-19. If you have questions about how the virus spreads, what is being done in Washington state, and what you can do if you have symptoms, call 1-800-525-0127 and press #.
