Rangers employees 'terrified' for safety amid coronavirus outbreak
Following news that multiple Texas Rangers employees recently tested positive for the coronavirus, other staff members hope the organization will begin allowing them to work from home after feeling pressured to go into the office, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
One anonymous employee said there's widespread fear.
"We are terrified for our safety," they said. "Terrified to share COVID-19, unknowingly, with an older employee, a pregnant co-worker, or anyone else who may have some sort of underlying condition. We all knew it would come to this. It was only a matter of time."
The team didn't deploy a specific order for its employees to work at Globe Life Field, but multiple staff said their managers told them working from home wasn't an option, with some exceptions.
Texas was in the process of reopening until Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Thursday that the state will pause that effort following a three-day period in which more than 17,000 new cases of COVID-19 were reported throughout the state, according to Jim Vertuno and Paul J. Weber of The Associated Press.
The Rangers acknowledged their own outbreak in a statement on Friday.
"Over the last 48 hours, the Texas Rangers have received notification that several of our employees have received a positive test for COVID-19. The Rangers immediately began the protocols that we have in place for positive COVID tests, and any employee who had direct contact with these individuals was sent home and will undergo COVID-19 testing," the statement said. "No individuals will be allowed back into the facility without receiving a negative COVID-19 test.
"The health and safety of our employees are a top priority, and the Rangers will continue to diligently enforce the pandemic protocols that are in place for front-office employees at Globe Life Field. These include temperature checks upon entering the building, mandatory wearing of face coverings, and regular sanitation and cleaning of the Globe Life Field facilities."
Major League Baseball's regular season is scheduled to begin on July 23.