Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford said he was “happy” to have been diagnosed with a falsely positive COVID-19 test, as it could help others avoid a situation similar to the ‘to come up.
Stafford landed on the COVID-19 reserve list on August 1, then was removed three days later with what was determined to be a false positive. Stafford had tested negative twice before his only positive test, then negative at least three times in the following days.
“I know everyone is doing their best. I’m glad it’s happened to me at this point, and the league is trying to change and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” said Stafford. “But I’m sure there will be another problem down the road at some point that we’ll have to sort out when we get there. That’s how it’s been the last six months; we’re all living That we let’s be a league trying to test thousands of players or just trying to go out shopping.
“So we understand that things are going to change and we’re going to have to adapt, but I’m glad it’s all set. I’m glad it’s over, and I’m just happy to be in the building with the guys. little normal in football. “
The league changed its testing protocol less than a week after Stafford’s false positive. If an asymptomatic person tests positive, the person can now have two more tests within the next 24 hours, and if both come back negative, the person can resume normal activity.
Stafford said there was “some fear” at first when he received his positive test but was asymptomatic – although he knows many people have tested positive while still being asymptomatic. He said it was “a little scary”.
“Everyone’s been tested and everything just went by itself, you know; obviously you feel a lot better about it,” Stafford said. “Not to say that, it can happen to anyone. You can be as careful as you want and sometimes it does.
“So just happy at this point, everyone I know and my family and I are healthy.”
Stafford said he and his wife, Kelly, plan to send their kids to school this year if that’s an option because “Kelly wants them to interact with other kids.”
He said he watched his sister and Kelly’s sister virtually teach their children this spring and appreciated how difficult it can be for families. The COVID-19 false positive and having a newborn daughter at home have not changed Stafford’s thoughts on withdrawing from the season. He had a conversation with Kelly (who had a brain tumor removed in April 2019) and her family, but said he never really thought about it.
“I never gave it serious thought,” Stafford said. “I want to play football. I want to be here. I have a supportive wife and family who know I love doing what I do and who know it’s important to me, so they were from agree with me. “
Stafford is coming back from a late season back injury that cost him the last eight games of the 2019 season. Prior to his injury, he threw for 2,499 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions.
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