A recent study has shown that only 0.7% of MLB professional players have developed COVID-19 antibodies. These findings come just ahead of the MLB’s planned restart after the season was delayed due to the pandemic.
In mid-April, tests were conducted across 26 MLB clubs involving a total of 6,237 employees. Among those tested, 70% showed no symptoms, 9% tested negative, and 21% reported experiencing various symptoms, with the most common being headaches (14%) and fevers (2.7%).
Antibodies are produced by the body in response to a virus or infection and help in fighting off the disease if it reoccurs. The tests used to detect antibodies are different from the PCR tests used to diagnose the infection.
Dr. Bhattacharya, a key figure in the study, noted that the percentage of MLB employees with COVID-19 antibodies is lower compared to the general population based on tests done in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami.
Dr. Bhattacharya expressed some surprise at the results, saying, “I was expecting to see a slightly higher number. The group of MLB employees we tested seemed to have been less impacted by the pandemic compared to their local communities.”
The findings, he explained, convey both good and bad news. On one hand, the virus hasn’t spread widely among MLB employees, but on the other, there is still a significant number of players who remain vulnerable to the virus.
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