BRAZILIAN football club Esporte Clube Bahia have opened up one of their training facilities to receive and treat any Covid-19 patients who do not require complex treatments.

The team from the city of Salvador in the north-east of Brazil joined the likes of Athletico Paranaense and Sao Paulo in making facilities available after training grounds became dormant once players and staff began self-isolating or working from home.

It’s the latest in a long line of social, community and environmental initiatives instigated by EC Bahia, who have regularly campaigned against racism and for the rights of indigenous Brazilians as well as taking measures to make female football fans feel safer in grounds.

The club’s latest move comes at a time when football is on hold across the world — with other buildings and facilities sitting idle when they could potentially be used to help people during the coronavirus pandemic.

“This is not free time, we are not on vacation. It’s a time to take care of others,” Bahia’s communications manager Nelson Barros told the Morning Star.

“The club had already taken important decisions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in our community.

“Employees, collaborators, players and staff were permitted to work from home and Bahia also encouraged them to self-quarantine for the next few weeks.

“We believe it is extremely important to co-operate with the requests of the health authorities.”

This move was helped by the fact that in January EC Bahia moved to a new training facility in Camacari, a city just to the north of Salvador.

The club’s old training ground in Salvador, the Fazendao, has been closed since that time but retains all of its original structure and facilities, making it ideal for the current situation — especially as it had been empty for several months.

“The Fazendao was used to prepare our players for the past 30 years,” explained Barros.

“The complex has about 30 bedrooms, an industrial kitchen, dining area, players’ room, living room and other ready-to-use facilities.

“After an inspection made by local authorities and Bahia’s representatives, the site was approved to receive patients with Covid-19 who do not need complex treatments.”