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By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, March 17, 2020

 
Rafael Nadal

Staff at the Rafa Nadal Academy are self-confining to the facility in order to supervise and aid the full-time students who live on site.

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
 

The Rafael Nadal Academy is in lock down to protect juniors and staff during the coronavirus crisis.

World No. 2 Rafael Nadal announced his team has enacted safety measures in cooperation with Spanish Regional Ministry of Health officials.

More: Toni Nadal Talks On-Court Coaching

Academy coaches, support staff and cleaning crews are voluntarily self-confining to the facility in Nadal's native Manacor to supervise and aid the full-time students who live on site. 

"It the last few hours we have been in contact with the Superior Sports Council and the Balearic Islands’ Regional Ministry of Health in order to adopt the suitable measures that are in line with the current law," Rafael Nadal said in an open letter to parents posted on the Rafa Nadal Academy website. "The outcome of these conversations has allowed some coaching and support staff, as well as cleaning personnel, who have all volunteered, to confine themselves within the facilities in order to be able to look after these players who have to stay at the Academy during this time."

The players’ residence at the academy is a 24-hour supervised building with monitors that stay on-site overnight. The building is accessed by authorized personnel only.

It is unclear how many total students and staff are on site now.




Since the academy went into lockdown on Saturday, outsiders have not been permitted on the grounds with only students and staff staying on site in an effort to limit potential exposure to COVID-19.

"On Saturday, the Academy closed to the public, the adult residencies, the gym, the museum, the shop and the restaurant, such that the players and volunteer staff who are now confined to the premises are the only people on site," Nadal said. "Nobody from outside can enter and thus we are able to try and avoid any possible infection from the outside."

Toni Nadal, who heads the Rafa Nadal Academy, was forced to leave led the Toni Nadal Camp at the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre in Costa Mujeres, Mexico last week to return to the academy in his native Mallorca as the coronavirus outbreak escalated.

The coronavirus crisis has claimed the lives of nearly 500 people in Spain.

In his open letter, Rafael Nadal, who has been in isolation at home, assured parents their children are being protected and cared for by staff and urged parents to stay home until further notice.

"I would like to take this opportunity to put the parents’ minds at rest and to tell you all that your children are being very well looked after by a great team that is giving their all every single minute to take care of their health," Rafael Nadal said. "I know you want to be with your children and we hope that moment will arrive soon. I would also like to encourage you to stay at home.

"These are difficult times but together we will come through them."

 

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