The Blue Jays have been cleared to host Toronto Summer Camp. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca first reported the news on Twitter; his colleague Ben Nicholson-Smith has more details (Twitter link). They broke things up in a conversation with Hazel Mae (video link).
This was the expected result, but it was not easy. The relevant Canadian authorities waited until the last moment to give their approval to a quarantine plan that the team will use.
For the July training period, the Jays will only bring players who have tested negative for COVID-19 infection. All of the key staff and equipment are currently gathered at the organization’s spring facility in Dunedin, Florida.
Once the club is taken by letter to Toronto, it will be limited to the Rogers Center grounds. They will stay in the adjacent hotel, with food and other necessities brought to the facilities. In addition to regular testing of players and staff, they will be isolated even from hotel staff as much as possible.
As the Sportsnet team comments, this is in many ways a dry race for the upcoming regular season. The Jays hope to use their regular home park to host games, but convincing relevant authorities that it’s wise could present a major challenge. That would require comfort with the idea of the Blue Jays and their competitors crossing the border.
