Why is the Bundesliga able to start play before other major leagues?

FC Yahoo's Ryan Bailey explains why German soccer is able to return more than two months since its last match day when the game in neighboring countries has been postponed.

Video transcript

RYAN BAILEY: Soccer is returning to Germany this weekend, but why is the Bundesliga able to return before other major soccer leagues? Ryan Bailey to Yahoo Sports. Just over two months after it went on hiatus, the Bundesliga makes its triumphant return this weekend.

If all goes to plan, there will be eight games in round 29. Many of which will be broadcast across the Fox Network in the US, starting with the revierderby, Borussia Dortmund versus Schalke at 9:30 Eastern on Saturday. It's highly unlikely that any other major league will return before June, if at all.

So why is it that the Bundesliga is able to return so soon? Why can German action return when countries who share a border with Germany, like France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, have all made the decision to cancel their top flight seasons? Well, Germany has a low COVID-19 mortality rate due to one of the world's best responses to the pandemic.

The key to their success has been mass testing, which is being ramped up even more as lockdown measures are being lifted. And they have a very well resourced universal health care system that hasn't been strained as hard as health systems in other nations, much like South Korea, whose soccer league was able to return last weekend. They've been praised for early diagnosis, early quarantine, and a rapid response.

The German Soccer Federation has carried out over 2,000 tests on players and staff in its top two leagues, and teams were able to return to training under strict social distancing conditions a few weeks ago. Of course, German soccer is not completely out of the woods. The aforementioned 2,000 Bundesliga tests came back with 10 positive cases.

FC Cologne suffered a recent outbreak, and Dresden will not play in the second tier this weekend due to an outbreak that's required the entire team to isolate. A significant breakout at another team could put a halt to the proceedings in Germany. But for now, the signs are good that the show will go on. For more on the beautiful game, follow FC Yahoo on your favorite social channels, and stay up to date on Yahoo Sports. Love to your mothers. See ya next time.