Updated: Two Atlanta United first-team players test positive for COVID-19

UPDATE 6/20: Atlanta United announced on Saturday that a second first-team player has tested positive.

Atlanta United today confirmed a second positive result for a First Team player following mandatory club testing on Friday. No additional positive results for players or staff were received Friday. The club announced its first positive result for a player on Thursday.

The second player was asymptomatic and has been in isolation since Wednesday, in adherence with MLS health and safety protocols which require at least two positive tests to ensure that the first result was not a false positive.

Atlanta United released the following statement Thursday evening:

Atlanta United today announced that a First Team player has tested positive for COVID-19. The positive result was confirmed today following mandatory club testing. No additional staff or players received a positive result.

In response to the positive test, Atlanta United medical staff have continued to work directly with local infectious disease specialists to treat the player, who was asymptomatic and has been observing isolation protocols since receiving the result.

The team, along with club personnel who have been reporting to the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, were informed of the positive result immediately. The team will conduct testing tomorrow morning prior to resuming training in adherence with MLS health and safety protocols.

Since Atlanta United began individual player workouts on May 6, the club has followed MLS health and safety guidelines, including proper physical distancing and sanitization during individual workouts, small group training sessions and full group training sessions. The club will continue to work in close consultation with the CDC, local health authorities and Major League Soccer regarding testing and training guidelines.

There is not a whole lot for us to add here as to the context of the positive test case. But it’s safe to reason that there will likely be more positive tests coming out of Atlanta and other MLS clubs in the coming weeks and months as the season progresses.

We’ll continue to follow this story as it progresses.