As we know Canadian Soccer League commissioner David Clanahan has confirmed that the league season will be hosted by Charlottetown.
His claim was that players and staff, about 300 in total, some from Europe and Mexico, began by self-isolating in their teams' home cities. We have to accept his word on that, I guess, since all levels of government have pursued this event so avidly.
As well, they have been arriving on private, disinfected aircraft. OK. I do wonder, though, if the number given — 300 in total (players and staff) — who are currently, and will apparently continue, to self-isolate after arrival in P.E.I. includes all the technical staff, producers, announcers — the whole group necessary to make this television project feasible? Are these "non-team" persons self-isolating now, and where will they be staying while on the Island for self-isolation and the games?
This question, of course, is only for TV. It does not include any print media, photographers, social media persons etc. who will be covering this event. In other words, does a media pass equate to a "get free" pass re-entering from other countries, COVID-19 testing, self-isolating, and tracking? Who now, and while their time on P.E.I., is looking after this (quite possibly large) group's self-isolations, accomodations, etc.?
Perhaps this information has already been presented, or organized. Mr. Clanahan is in charge of Canadian MLS. Is he also looking after all media and technical personnel? Media — who, from where, isolation (now and future), accommodations and monitoring? Is Health P.E.I. in charge of all this? Or are we operating on a wish and a prayer? Never the best strategy.
Gary Walker,
Charlottetown
P.S. The Walker family has been involved at the local, provincial and national levels since 1990. This letter regards only coronavirus concerns.