Australian Olympics team hit by a SECOND positive Covid test just days before Paris Games begin
- Australia has been hit by Covid
- Two anonymous stars have tested positive
- But Anna Meares calmed the nerves on Tuesday
A second member of the Australian women’s water polo team has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the Paris Olympics.
Team principal Anna Meares said on Tuesday morning that a player had mild symptoms after testing positive on Monday evening.
A few hours later, the Australian Olympic Committee reported that a second player had also tested positive.
“The player who tested positive for COVID-19 last night has chosen not to train with her teammates this afternoon,” the AOC statement said.
‘All close contacts have been tested. A second player who was a close contact has also tested positive, but that player is well enough to train.
‘The water polo team followed the AOC protocols for respiratory illnesses correctly, which allowed for early diagnosis and treatment. A reminder was sent to all teams to reinforce the protocols.’
According to the AOC, no other athlete on the Paris team has been diagnosed.
Two team members were scheduled to attend the Australian team’s regular press conference on Tuesday morning but were withdrawn as a precaution.
“This is a high-performance environment so we are being diligent, but I must stress that we are not treating COVID any differently to other diseases such as influenza. This is not Tokyo,” Meares said.
A member of the Australian Olympic team has tested positive for Covid
‘We have a good picture of what is going on.
“What was very positive about this situation and about this athlete was that they followed the protocols… and at the first symptoms they acted responsibly and reported to the medical team to be tested.”
The Australian team has its own medical testing equipment for diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza.
The French government and the World Health Organization (WHO) reported only a moderate increase in the number of COVID cases in the country.
“There is no major risk of a cluster,” Health Minister Frederic Valletoux told broadcaster franceinfo.
“Of course COVID is here. We’ve seen a little bit of a spike (in cases), but we’re far from what we saw in 2020, 2021, 2022.”
He added that wearing a face mask is not mandatory as the number of infections is still low.
‘Precautions are being taken, but because the rate at which COVID spreads is very low, the measures depend on the organizers.’
Meares said “a couple” of unnamed officials from the Australian team have colds and “flu symptoms” and are being treated in the same way as the water polo players.
Australia’s first women’s water polo match is against China on Saturday evening.