Due to multiple positive Covid-19 tests within the Guardians organization, Wednesday afternoon’s game between Cleveland and the Chicago White Sox has been postponed, Major League Baseball officials announced.
It is the first Covid-19-related postponement of the season.
Among those testing positive for the virus that causes Covid-19 were Cleveland manager Terry Francona, bench coach DeMarlo Hale and “other uniformed personnel,” according to the Guardians’ website.
In addition to Francona, much of the Guardians coaching staff tested positive and were symptomatic, a source with knowledge of the situation told CNN.
The source said that while other teams have had multiple positive Covid-19 cases this season, with Wednesday’s positive test results coming shortly before the start of an afternoon game, it was not feasible for a team to play without a manager and coaching staff.
The postponement was announced less than an hour before the game’s scheduled start time of 2:10 p.m. ET.
According to MLB’s 2022 Covid-19 protocols – a copy of which was obtained by CNN – players, staff and personnel who come into close contact with players are subject to daily health screenings, and if someone reports symptoms they should be tested.
When there is a positive test, the individual must isolate for up to 10 days and may return when cleared by the team physician and the MLB’s joint committee comprising two doctors and two non-medical representatives.
The protocols say the individual must have two test results within certain parameters and improved or resolved symptoms in addition to approval from the doctor and joint committee.
Wednesday’s game was to be the finale of a three-game series between the two teams at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.
It will be made up on July 23 as part of a double-header in Chicago, with the makeup game starting at 12:10 p.m. CT, and the regularly scheduled game set for 6:15 p.m., MLB said.
The Guardians’ next scheduled contest is Friday against the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis.
A spokesperson for the Guardians said the club needed a few hours to arrange logistics and travel coordination before issuing a team statement.
CNN’s Steve Almasy contributed to this report.
