Club matches cancelled after senior Port Adelaide Cricket Club player tests positive after attending training
Eight cricket club matches were cancelled on Saturday after a double vaxxed Port Adelaide Cricket Club player tested positive to Covid – and some staff from Memorial Hospital are in quarantine.
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A Senior Port Adelaide Cricket Club player has tested positive for Covid, sparking the cancellation of eight senior and junior matches across Adelaide on Saturday as a precaution.
It is the first time the pandemic has directly forced the withdrawal of community sporting matches in Adelaide since the first case was detected in SA in February 2020.
Also affected by a positive Covid-case is the Memorial Hospital, in North Adelaide. One of the hospital’s staff became a confirmed case on Thursday after attending work on Wednesday when they were not symptomatic. Memorial Hospital general manager Janet Jongeneel said a small number of staff and visiting medical officers identified as close contacts have so far tested negative, were self-quarantining and not displaying any Covid symptoms. All those affected are fully vaccinated.
The South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) on Saturday morning contacted club presidents, secretaries and delegates via email, informing them that a senior PACC player had tested positive to Covid-19 on Friday and was quarantining at a Medi-Hotel.
It is understood the PACC senior player was alerted by SA Health on Friday that he was a close contact after meeting with friends on Tuesday.
The news comes as SA records seven new cases, including one more in the Norwood cluster.
A second PACC senior player, also present at the catch-up on Tuesday, has tested negative. Both players are doubled vaccinated.
Genomic testing is yet to determine whether the positive test result is Omicron-related.
The affected player, aged in his 20s, attended training Thursday night at Port Adelaide and was in the clubrooms after training.
There was possible contact with junior players on that training night.
As a result, all junior and senior Port Adelaide Club matches scheduled for today were cancelled against the Adelaide and Tea Tree Gully cricket clubs.
The Advertiser understands up to 180 players were affected by the Round Six match cancellations.
Port Adelaide Cricket Club president Sean Holden said the affected player should be commended for his quick and responsible action, alerting the club shortly after receiving contact from SA Health.
“The club’s thoughts are with the senior player involved and with all our players, supporters and parents,” said Mr Holden. He also wanted to thank the PACC’s executive team and SACA for their rapid and compassionate response.
“This is not about cricket – it is all about the health and wellbeing of all involved,” he said.
SACA would not comment.
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, please seek testing as soon as possible. For testing sites visit the SA Health website.
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