Kansas City Chiefs staff member tests positive for COVID-19, facility closed

The Kansas City Chiefs had a positive COVID-19 test on their staff.

The NFL had been managing to handle the COVID-19 pandemic with some measure of success outside of the Tennessee Titans, but this recent week has seen several teams get stricken with a handful of infections as cases around the country skyrocket. The Kansas City Chiefs are not immune, as they have another COVID-19 case in the building.

Kansas City has shut their facility down after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. The Chiefs have had two players test positive this season in fullback Anthony Sherman and former practice squad quarterback Jordan Ta’amu.

The Chiefs released the following statement:

"The club was notified this morning that a staff member has tested positive for COVID-19. The individual is self-quarantining, under the team’s medical care, and contact tracing is taking place. The team is now in the NFL’s Intensive Protocol and working closely with the league and medical experts.The health and safety of our players, coaches and staff members remains our number one priority.The Chiefs will hold practice this morning and then out of precaution, the facilities will be closed this afternoon and meetings will be held virtually.We’ll continue to monitor the situation and take any appropriate action necessary to protect the team and those around us.The team will continue its preparation to play the Carolina Panthers on Sunday."

The Chiefs are one of many teams dealing with a COVID-19 issue

While the NFL hasn’t had to move too many games around or officially implement the “Week 18” that could be used to reschedule postponed games, flu season and lockdown regulations loosening is bringing about an increase in cases across the country. Several NFL teams in addition to Kansas City have been hit hard by this.

The San Francisco 49ers will be without several key starters due to positive COVID-19 tests, while the Chicago Bears are faced with a complete patchwork offensive line after three linemen were placed on the COVID-19 list. If the staff member receives two negative tests in a five day period, they can return to action and the Chiefs can return to the facility.

Kansas City would likely have liked to get a few extra on-field reps before they take on Teddy Bridgewater and the Carolina Panthers, but they wisely chose to prioritize the health and safety of everyone in the organization and practice virtually. Chiefs fans just need to cross their fingers and hope that their game against Carolina isn’t postponed as a result of the outbreak spreading.