BRADENTON, Fla. _ The Pirates got reminded of the virtues of proper hand washing and covering their mouths when they cough on Wednesday.
The team held a meeting with every player and staff member to discuss safety protocols for the virus that has caused about 3,000 deaths around the globe.
"This has been a collaborative effort from the commissioner's office to the players association, to the CDC, to the World Health Organization and local government to create awareness," Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said about the meeting. "We wanted to create awareness of the signs and symptoms. We also wanted to make sure everyone is aware of the universal precautions that we should all be doing anyway."
On Tuesday, staff members spent the off-day doing a deep clean of their spring training facilities as a precaution for the newly discovered coronavirus, which causes COVID-19.
The deep cleaning included using a sanitizing machine to disinfect the team's clubhouse, offices, press box, suites, dugouts and concession stands.
News about COVID-19 hit close to home for the Pirates since one of the two known cases in Florida was in Manatee County, where the Pirates make their spring home in Bradenton. The other case was in Hillsborough County.
"We want to make sure guys are aware of what's going on without creating panic," Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon said. "It hits a bit more. We knew it was coming to America at some point, but when it's this close, it makes you pay attention to it."
The players were appreciative of the team taking the extra precautions for safety.
"We are probably a bit more alert than other teams with there being cases so close to us," catcher Jacob Stallings said. "It was cool that they're taking steps to make sure we're safe."
MLB has advised players to take precautions such as making sure the players don't touch baseballs or pens handed to them by fans for autographs. Also, the league recommended players get up to date on their flu vaccines.
"They told us to be careful about our hygiene and how many high-fives you're doing without washing your hands," Taillon said. "It's scary because it's new and it's spreading. But at the same time, there's a lot of other dangerous things out there, too. So we don't want to panic."
No member of the organization or people around the organization has noted any symptoms of COVID-19.
