Minister for Sport Vincenzo Spadafora and Minister for Health Roberto Speranza have signed the paperwork approving the ‘softer’ quarantine rules for COVID-19 cases.
The Serie A, B and C medical protocol was far stricter than the one used in Germany, England or Spain, causing controversy and complaints that the season could grind to a halt immediately after restarting.
Minister for Sport Vincenzo Spadafora and Minister for Health Roberto Speranza have signed the paperwork approving the ‘softer’ quarantine rules for COVID-19 cases.
The Serie A, B and C medical protocol was far stricter than the one used in Germany, England or Spain, causing controversy and complaints that the season could grind to a halt immediately after restarting.
That’s because it ruled that if one person in the matchday group tested positive for coronavirus, he would be quarantined for 14 days, but the entire squad and coaching staff would also have to stay isolated for 14 days as a precaution.
Following a downturn in the pandemic curve in Italy and appeals from the FIGC, the CTS (technical scientific committee) agreed that the protocol was unnecessarily harsh.
It required a change of the latest Government decree for the rule to be changed, and that arrived this evening, with Minister for Sport Spadafora and Minister for Health Speranza signing the paperwork that allows for loosening of the decree issued on May 16.
Instead, only the individual who tests positive for COVID-19 will be quarantined, whereas the rest of the squad will ramp up testing, including a rapid-response test the day before a match.
Serie A is due to resume on Saturday with the outstanding Week 25 fixtures, starting with Torino-Parma.
“The missive that regulates the quarantine for professional sports teams, as indicated by the CTS, is another step forward for the completion of this sporting season,” said FIGC President Gabriele Gravina.
“I hope that now with a great sense of responsibility, starting from the fans who fuel their passion for football every day, that we can behave in a way that avoids making these efforts in vain.”