WASHINGTON (US) – After spending ten days in quarantine, Dylan Frittelli, Nick Watney and Denny McCarthy finished the first round of the PGA Tour’s Workday Charity Open on Thursday. The three had tested positive for COVID-19.
After the Tour revamped its return-to-work protocols on Wednesday, the three were allowed to play and they were grouped together at the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Ohio.
According to the new protocol, a player who is infected can return to the turf after ten days in self-isolation from the point the symptoms manifested and has not displayed symptoms such as fever or cough, for three days.
Frittelli said he was happy to be back after testing positive during the Travelers Championship last month. Though he tested positive twice this week, he has only had mild symptoms.
“The Tour is trying to monitor things as they move, and scientists and biologists are still figuring stuff out today,” said the South African.
“I’m glad the Tour have kept their finger on the pulse.”
On Wednesday, PGA Tour medical advisor Dr Tom Hospel said that in the beginning stages of the illness the virus is assumed to be an “active virus that can cause infection”.
But as time passes and as symptoms resolve, “the theory is that this virus, this particle that’s being detected in the nasopharyngeal swab, is no longer active or contagious.”
Frittelli and McCarthy each fired 73s while Watney shot a 77.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field