Five Australian water polo players test positive to Covid
Five Australian water polo players have now tested positive to Covid as team officials move to mitigate the risk to their Olympic campaign on the eve of the Paris Games.
Covid is now running rampant through the Australian women’s water polo team with a fifth confirmed positive case within the Stingers as officials scramble to contain the illness to just one squad.
The Australian Olympic Committee confirmed a fifth positive case had been returned on Wednesday, just a day after Anna Meares revealed the first case of illness within the Australian Olympic team.
The AOC has not revealed the identity of players, but said the first player who tested positive on Monday evening had missed training on Tuesday while the second athlete remained well enough to train.
The entire Australian Olympics team has been tested, with only water polo players being affected.
“The Water Polo team followed the Australian Olympic Team Respiratory Illness protocols correctly which allowed for early diagnosis and treatment. A reminder has been sent to all teams to reinforce the protocols,” the AOC said in a statement.
“No other athletes in the Australian Team have been diagnosed with COVID and teams and officials will continue to observe common sense precautions in line with Team protocols.”
Earlier Meares said the Australian team was taking all illnesses seriously within the Olympic village precinct, desperate to avoid a spread of the disease impacting the performance of athletes in the crucial final days before competition.
“At this stage we are treating this like any other respiratory illness,” Meares said.
“I need to emphasise that we are treating Covid no differently to other bugs like the flu. This is not Tokyo. The athlete is not particularly unwell and they are still training but sleeping in a single room.
“At the moment she is doing well, she is comfortable. We are testing and monitoring her close contacts and roommate.”
The news comes as more athletes arrive in the Olympic village, headlined by the Australian swim team who are entered the accommodation on Tuesday.
Meares said the entire Olympic team had been instructed to wear face masks when in crowded areas such as the village food hall where athletes often come into contact with competitors from other countries who may not be following as strict hygiene procedures to reduce the risk of exposure to any illnesses, not just covid.
She said athletes would only be ruled out of competing on the advice of the team chief medical officer.
“That comes down to our chief medical officer to make that decision. What I am confident in is the protocols we have in place and what really pleases me is that they are being followed,” Meares said.
“There is a real mindfulness around the respect for all members of this team who come here, all athletes have worked years for this moment if not a lifetime and in the welcome briefings (we) are informing them of those protocols and recommending they keep a mask in their pocket if they go to the food court and it’s crowded and they’re standing in line waiting for food that they just pop it on.
“We don’t want these last minute potential illnesses to derail their chances in competition here.”
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