Olympics chiefs play down Covid fears as first athletes test positive

Olympics chiefs have performed down fears of a Covid cluster on the Paris Video games after the Australia water polo workforce reported two gamers had examined optimistic and have been isolating.

The Australian workforce stated the primary athlete to check optimistic for Covid selected to not practice along with her team-mates on Tuesday afternoon and a second participant, who was a detailed contact, later examined optimistic as effectively.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been delayed by a 12 months and held largely with out spectators however Paris 2024 would be the first post-pandemic summer season Olympics. Whereas there isn’t a obligation to put on a masks, anyone with signs is being requested to remain at residence or at their resort to keep away from spreading the illness.

“I would like to emphasize that we’re treating Covid no otherwise to different bugs just like the flu. This isn’t Tokyo,” Australia’s Olympic workforce chief Anna Meares instructed a press convention on Tuesday.

“It was late final night time when she offered with signs and the nice factor is that having our personal testing tools signifies that we are able to get that info actually, actually shortly and intervene each in analysis and therapy,” Meares added.

The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics takes place on Friday, with a whole bunch of hundreds of spectators anticipated to line the Seine within the metropolis.

France’s well being minister stated there was solely a small enhance in Covid instances within the nation forward of the Olympics.

“In fact Covid is right here. We’ve seen a small peak,” he stated. “However we’re removed from what we noticed in 2020, 2021, 2022.

“Some precautions are being taken however, as a result of the extent at which Covid is spreading may be very low, they depend upon the organisers.”