‘Lapse in testing’ allowed Chiefs fan into Arrowhead box seat without negative test
A “lapse in testing in the suite protocol” allowed a fan into a lower level box seat at Arrowhead Stadium for last week’s Kansas City Chiefs game without a negative COVID-19 test, according to the Kansas City Health Department.
That fan tested positive for the coronavirus the next day.
Because the fan sat in a field box, he or she should have been tested for COVID-19 before being admitted to the box, per the Chiefs policy, which applies only to those sitting in suites, including the lower level field boxes.
The health department is working with the Chiefs, who are responsible for the testing, to strengthen the protocol, said Bill Snook, a health department spokesman, on Friday.
“We are aware that this individual apparently violated the suite testing protocol that is in place,” a Chiefs spokesperson said in a statement. “We have worked with the health department and the testing lab to strengthen the integrity of the suite testing process.”
The health department announced Thursday that it told 10 fans to quarantine after possibly being exposed to COVID-19 at last week’s season opening game against the Houston Texans.
The person who tested positive was among a group of fans in an open-air field box in the stadium’s lower level, according to the health department.
The health department’s disease investigation team was activated and to find those who had close contact with the person. The Chiefs said that the organization worked closely with the health department to provide the tracing information needed to track down those who were possibly exposed.
Not all of the about 16,000 fans who attend games at Arrowhead Stadium are tested prior to the game. Those in regular seats are not tested.
Only suite members and those in field boxes are mailed self-administered saliva tests that they have to return via FedEx or drop-off sites, including Arrowhead Stadium. The tests are processed locally through Clinical Reference Laboratory in Lenexa.
They must test negative in order to get to their seats. Each suite has a designated administrator charged with handing out tickets to those who’ve received negative COVID test results.
About 1,000 fans were mailed the tests in an advance of last week’s game.
