- Australia has been affected by Covid
- Two anonymous stars tested positive
- But Anna Meares calmed 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 chef de mission Anna Meares said Tuesday morning that one player had mild symptoms after testing positive on Monday night.
Hours later, the Australian Olympic Committee said a second player had also tested positive.
“The player who tested positive for COVID-19 last night decided 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 also tested positive, but that player is well enough to train.
“The water polo team correctly followed the AOC protocols for respiratory illnesses, which allowed for early diagnosis and treatment. A reminder has been sent to all teams to reinforce the protocols.”
The AOC added that no other athletes on the Paris team had been diagnosed.
Two members of the team were supposed to attend the Australian team’s usual morning press conference on Tuesday but were withdrawn as a precaution.
“This is a high-throughput environment, so we are being diligent, but I must emphasize that we are treating COVID-19 in the same way as other viruses like influenza; this is not Tokyo,” Meares said.
A member of Australia’s Olympic team has tested positive for Covid
‘We’ve been able to get a pretty good idea of what might be happening.
“The very positive thing about this situation and about this athlete was that they followed the protocols… and at the first symptom they acted responsibly and went to the medical team to get tested.”
The Australian team has its own medical testing team for diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza.
The French government and the World Health Organization (WHO) said there had been only a moderate increase in COVID cases in the country.
“There is no major risk of an outbreak,” Health Minister Frédéric Valletoux told Franceinfo.
“Of course COVID is here. We have seen a small spike (in cases), but we are far from what we saw in 2020, 2021 and 2022.”
He added that there is no obligation to wear a mask because the number of cases is still low.
“Some precautions are being taken, but since the level of COVID spread is very low, it depends on the organizers.”
Meares said “a couple” of unnamed Australian team officials have cold and flu symptoms and are being treated the same as water polo players.
Australia’s first women’s water polo match will be against China on Saturday night.