Developing: Two Phillies staff members test positive for COVID-19

UPDATE on Phillies COVID-19: Major League Baseball has cancelled this weekends series between the Phillies and Blue Jays.

The Philadelphia Phillies cancelled workouts on Thursday and have suspended all activities until further notice after a coach and clubhouse attendant both tested positive for coronavirus. No players have tested positive. 

The Phillies’ COVID-19 tests had been negative since Monday until now.

This stems from the Phillies’ opening series against the Miami Marlins. The Marlins have since had an outbreak in their clubhouse, with 17 players and two coaches testing positive. The clubhouse attendant was reportedly working the Marlin’s side, meaning he was in close contact with much of the team. The Phillies and Marlins have both been in quarantine and have not played any games since Sunday, July 26. 

The Blue Jays were scheduled to begin a three-game series in Philadelphia starting on Saturday, which is now expected to be postponed. 

With the Marlins and Phillies both out of commission for the time being, schedule adjustments may be put into place.

With this week’s outbreak, Major League Baseball is putting new safety precautions into place. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, players now must wear surgical masks instead of cloth masks and must stay in their hotel on the road. A mandatory compliance officer will be with the team and in the hotels to make sure players do not break this rule.

Check out our MLB COVID-19 tracker.