[teejers1]

I would be cautious about assuming that asymptomatic infection = no harm. Imaging studies show pneumonitis (pneumonia) in asymptomatic patients, and a unique characteristic of cover-19 pneumonitis is that people can be impressively hypoxemic and not realize it. Whether that will result in permanent lung damage is not yet known. But even a minor decrement in lung function, while meaningless to a schmoe like me, might affect athletic performance in many sports. If I was an elite athlete--which I'm sure I am in an alternate universe--I would strongly want not to be infected.

You could be right about unknown long-term ill-effects.  We may not ever know for sure on that; or if we do, it could well take years before a conclusion may be comfortably drawn.

I feel pretty good about this observation, however:  numerous players in PL and Bundesliga tested positive before the re-start.  They did not disclose specific names, so it's impossible to tie Positive A with Player A; however, I have yet to see any report of players who have been held out for health reasons (other than typical injuries).  This is not conclusive by any means (and I could have missed reports); however, I have a strong suspicion that if Player A is sitting out because he still is feeling adverse side-effects from having had Covid 19 and subsequently tested negative, it would have been leaked/reported.  But maybe not - maybe European reporting is much better than US reporters are about not leaking personal private health information about star athletes.

[teejers1]

I would be cautious about assuming that asymptomatic infection = no harm. Imaging studies show pneumonitis (pneumonia) in asymptomatic patients, and a unique characteristic of cover-19 pneumonitis is that people can be impressively hypoxemic and not realize it. Whether that will result in permanent lung damage is not yet known. But even a minor decrement in lung function, while meaningless to a schmoe like me, might affect athletic performance in many sports. If I was an elite athlete--which I'm sure I am in an alternate universe--I would strongly want not to be infected.

You could be right about unknown long-term ill-effects.  We may not ever know for sure on that; or if we do, it could well take years before a conclusion may be comfortably drawn.

I feel pretty good about this observation, however:  numerous players in PL and Bundesliga tested positive before the re-start.  They did not disclose specific names, so it's impossible to tie Positive A with Player A; however, I have yet to see any report of players who have been held out for health reasons (other than typical injuries).  This is not conclusive by any means (and I could have missed reports); however, I have a strong suspicion that if Player A is sitting out because he still is feeling adverse side-effects from having had Covid 19 and subsequently tested negative, it would have been leaked/reported.  But maybe not - maybe European reporting is much better than US reporters are about not leaking personal private health information about star athletes.