PGA Tour could use 1m Covid-19 test kits to complete season

[nitpicker]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/apr/19/pga-tour-will-use-up-to-one-million-covid-19-test-kits-to-complete-season

PGA Tour could use 1m Covid-19 test kits to complete season

Fourteen tournaments scheduled until 7 September

At least 25 PGA Tour players living outside the US

Ewan Murray

Published on Sun 19 Apr 2020 15.59 BST

The PGA Tour hopes to take delivery of up to one million Covid-19 test kits to assist with the completion of its season from 11 June. President Donald Trump’s desire to use sport as a key vehicle to accelerate a return to normality in the United States is emphasised by a plan to allow those involved in PGA Tour events into the country under the auspice of essential travel. The Tour remains confident of pushing forward with tournaments given the scale of government backing.

A revised schedule was announced last week, featuring 14 tournaments running until 7 September. At least the first four, starting with the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, will be closed to spectators. Estimates are that between 700 and 800 personnel will still be needed on site at events.

The rigorous testing procedures will involve players, caddies and officials being sent testing kits – already on mass order – to their homes, with a further and immediate check required if anyone has travelled to a tournament by air. Daily tests will subsequently be undertaken by each individual in tournament week, with anyone returning a positive result asked to self-quarantine for 14 days.
(snip)

Testing procedures were a key topic as Trump addressed the nation on Friday. The US president claimed the country had already carried out almost 3.8m tests. It is unclear precisely what type of kits the Tour has on order – or what level can be delivered – but both Trump and golf administrators have cited the usefulness of saliva tests, as recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration but currently for emergency use only. Testing machines have been considered but are more likely to be used when the general public are permitted entry to tournaments again.
(snip)

Jay Monahan, the Tour’s commissioner, has previously stressed the importance of mass testing and that golf should know its place in terms of national priorities. “We need to have widespread, large-scale testing across our country, where we are going to be able to test players, caddies and other constituents before we return,” he said. “But we need to do so in a way that’s not going to take away from the critical need [the country is] going to be facing.”

The Tour estimates at least 25 of its member players and 35 caddies are currently outside the US. If border restrictions are not eased by mid-June, there is an understanding these individuals will still be granted entry if due at a golf tournament. What this means in respect of returns to their home bases is unclear.
(snip)

[nitpicker]

1. I guess the Masters' reruns weren't good enough for Thump

[Nay]

2. So the PGA gets a million tests, but the hospitals and clinics don't get any for

their ERs? This country is so fucked up. There's no coming back from such mindless depravity and greed.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. What a fucking waste. And golf courses are huge polluters of runoff. . . . nt