Some Chiefs fans told to quarantine after person at game tests positive for COVID-19
The Kansas City Health Department has told 10 fans to quarantine after possibly being exposed to COVID-19 at last week’s Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium, health officials announced Thursday.
The fans may have been exposed to a person who attended the game and tested positive for the coronavirus the next day, the health department said. The health department’s disease investigation team was activated and tracked down those who had close contact with the person.
The fan attended the game in an open-air field box in the stadium’s lower level, a health department spokeswoman said.
According to Chiefs’ protocol, fans entering the open air field-box should have been tested prior to the game. A Chiefs spokesperson said the fan was not tested before the game based on information they said came from the health department. The Chiefs spokesperson said they do not yet know how the fan bypassed pregame testing.
“I want to remind everyone that COVID-19 is anywhere and everywhere,” said Dr. Rex Archer, Kansas City’s health director, in an email. “While we’re all tired of it, frustrated and even angry at how it has altered and stricken our lives and livelihoods, we must continue to think of those who have not and will not survive it.”
Scientists still don’t understand why the virus strikes some people harder than others. People with prior health conditions like cancer, diabetes, heart or lung diseases as well as those older than 65 years old should not be taking unnecessary risks like being in crowds, he said.
“We hope those around you aren’t taking those risks either and possibly bringing the virus home to you,” he said.
The Chiefs, in a statement posted on the team’s website, said that the organization worked closely with the health department to provide the information to track down the fans who were possibly exposed.
“The contact tracing mechanisms that the club has in place, including parking and ticket scanning data, as well as video record review, indicate that the individual who has presented positive and the individual’s party entered the stadium in compliance with mask mandates,” the team said in the statement.
“This process allowed the team to identify the other guests sitting with this individual, the service staff with whom this individual may have come in contact with, as well as any other ticket holders near this person at the time of entry into the stadium.”
Chiefs officials were able to pinpoint the identities of the other members of the group as well as provide the health department detailed information about the path and entry location. The group was seated in the lower level of the stadium.
“All staff with known interactions with the positive case were required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including a mask,” the team said. “Additionally, the protocols in place at the stadium require all attendees to be wearing masks inside the stadium.”
The Kansas City Health Department urges the public and businesses to continue to work with the department and disease investigators to minimize the spread of the disease.
The Chiefs are one of two teams in the NFL that allowed fans in the stands during the first week of games this season, according to ESPN. It is the first team to report COVID-19 cases among fans who attended a game.
The Jacksonville Jaguars allowed some fans in the stadium for Sunday’s home opener, according to ESPN. The Cleveland Browns planned to allow fans in the stands Thursday night and the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts are anticipating having fans in attendance on Sunday.
Ahead of Thursday’s game, the Chiefs mailed saliva tests for the virus to 1,000 fans who would be attending the game in partially enclosed suites. Attendees were able to self-administer the tests and return them for processing via Fed-Ex or drop boxes.
The Chiefs said only those fans who tested negative would be allowed to attend the game.
The Kansas City metropolitan area reported five COVID-19 deaths and 325 new cases Thursday. In total, more than 500 deaths from the virus have been reported in the area encompassing Kansas City and Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas.
This story was originally published September 17, 2020 at 11:42 AM.
