Cleveland, OH - The Cleveland Indians today announced a partnership with Cleveland Clinic for the health system to provide health and safety guidance to the Club, in anticipation of fans being allowed to return to Progressive Field for the 2021 season.
With the development of the health and safety partnership, Cleveland Clinic’s team of pandemic response experts and physicians are working with the Cleveland Indians to provide the most up-to-date research and guidelines on how to return fans back to the ballpark.
“Providing health and safety recommendations is an important step we can take to help keep our community safer as we work to resume activities we enjoyed pre-pandemic,” said James Merlino, M.D., Chief Clinical Transformation Officer at Cleveland Clinic. “We are proud to advise the Cleveland Indians on implementing public health measures, which continue to be important during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The partnership will include health and safety training for staff, as well as recommended guidelines and disinfection plans for the entertainment venue. In addition, Cleveland Clinic’s S-A-F-E branding will be featured around the ballpark to remind fans of ballpark health guidelines.
More detailed recommended protocols and procedures will be announced as we work towards the hopeful return of fans to the ballpark. The guidelines and procedures will also be shaped by the health and safety guidelines recommended by the Cleveland Department of Public Health, Executive Orders from the Governor and recommendations issued by Major League Baseball and Cleveland Clinic.
“We are extremely fortunate to have one of the top medical centers in the world in our backyard to partner with and lead us in fan health and safety at Progressive Field,” said Neil Weiss, Cleveland Indians Senior Vice President, Ballpark Operations and Chief Information Officer. “We look forward to the day when we can welcome the best fans in baseball back to the ballpark.”
As one of the leading medical systems in the country, Cleveland Clinic has also partnered with industry leaders to provide safety procedures for customers and employees during COVID-19.
Additional health and safety information will be released at www.indians.com/updates in the coming months.
Photo courtesy of Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Clinic
(Copyright, iHeartMedia, 2020)
Listen to WTAM news at the top and bottom of the hour