Cubs Cautiously Optimistic COVID-19 Situation Has Not Spread

Cubs cautiously optimistic COVID-19 situation has not spread originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

Acting manager Andy Green said the Cubs are hopeful their COVID-19 situation is contained in the aftermath of David Ross and Jed Hoyer testing positive Friday.

“We’re cautiously optimistic at this point, but we're still hopeful,” Green said before Monday’s game against the Reds. “The three-to-five-day window, we’re right in the prime of it when someone could potentially test positive. 

“As far as I know, this day, every one of the guys who've come in — including myself — have tested negative, so we haven't seen it spread.”

The Cubs began taking steps to mitigate exposure in wake of Ross and Hoyer’s positive tests. The club has reemphasized masking in the clubhouse while limiting time spent together there.

Members of Ross’ coaching staff have been masking up in the dugout, and Ross’ close contacts are being tested daily.

“I think if we clear [Tuesday], that's approaching the end of our testing window that would come back to us on Wednesday morning — the last day before [Thursday’s] off day,” Green said. 

“If we’re clear all the way through there, we’ll continue to be as cautiously optimistic as all of us can be in a COVID world that we live in right now.”

Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy, who dealt with a severe case of COVID-19 during MLB’s shutdown last season, said the Cubs’ situation “starts to hit home again,” and is a reminder of how serious the virus must be taken.

“We're not naive to think that we're past this just because we're a couple days in,” Hottovy said Sunday, “and also not naive to think that this isn't going to potentially come back at some point the rest of this year.

“So we’re just trying to take it day to day and be smart about the time we're spending in the clubhouse together, masking up and doing all the things we need to do to be safe here.”

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