Rapids head for Orlando

A day after being grounded, the Colorado Rapids took off for Orlando and the MLS is Back Tournament on Monday.

The Rapids will be the final MLS team to reach Florida after two presumptive positive COVID-19 tests kept them in Colorado on Sunday. Each of those tests were cleared as negative following another round of testing Sunday afternoon, giving the team the green light to head east.

“We’re excited to get back on the field and play meaningful games again,” Rapids executive Pádraig Smith said in a release. “This is a deep, talented and hungry group who want to compete for trophies.”

The tournament kicks off Wednesday, with the Rapids’ first match Sunday.

Florida has been one of the hardest-hit states in recent weeks and coronavirus issues have reached MLS’ bubble at Walt Disney World.

FC Dallas pulled out of the tournament Monday after 10 players and one coach tested positive for COVID-19. Each of the positive tests either occurred upon the club’s arrival or within a few days of arrival. The Columbus Crew and Minnesota United also agreed to cancel their friendlies scheduled for Sunday after one player on each team tested positive for the virus.

Of the 557 players currently in Orlando, 13 have been confirmed positive for COVID-19: 10 FC Dallas players and the remaining three from two other clubs.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of guys that are already in Orlando and it’s getting mixed reviews,” Andre Shinyashiki told The Post last week. “I would be lying if I told you that everybody’s saying they feel safe.”

Rapids forward Diego Rubio voiced similar concerns on Sunday via Twitter:

“Hearing from a player in the bubble that their team is supposed to be quarantined since they got a positive test. But there is no one delivering meals to their room which is supposed to be the protocol, so they have to go down to the meal room, get on elevators and bring their meal back. Telling other players to be careful with the surfaces and use extra hand sanitizer. We were supposed to go there and just think about soccer, but now we have all these problems? How are we going to play thinking that it is dangerous to go outside your room? What are our families going to think about the situation?”

While the Rapids’ first game is Sunday, they are supposed to quarantine for seven days after arriving in Orlando. There is only six days between their arrival and the match, but no postponement has been announced.