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KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Seven national athletes, including five for athletes, were confirmed to be Covid-19 positive after undergoing swab testing prior to the start of their quarantine-based focus training on Monday (Jan 4).
The National Sports Council (NSC), in a statement, said that the infected were two from athletics, two wheelchair tennis players, two wheelchair basketball players, a ten-pin bowler with hearing impairment and a boccia officer.
Its director general, Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail, said that those detected as positive had been isolated pending further action by the Health Ministry.
“NSC has also segregated athletes who may have been in close contact with the infected athletes and the official, and the swab tests will take place on the fourth day.
“Those whose results are negative but symptomatic would have to undergo quarantine for up to 10 days. The tests will be carried out on the ninth day to confirm that they are free of infection,” he added.
A total of 466 of the 735 athletes under the Podium Program and national endorsement athletes and officials have undergone swab testing at their respective training centers, coordinated by NSC and the National Sports Institute (NSI).
The smear tests were conducted at NSC’s Taman Keramat Sports Complex, which included 38 of the 41 athletes and coaches, in addition to the Kecemerlangan Paralimpik Kampung Pandan Complex, which included 89 of the 91 para-athletes and coaches.
On Sunday (January 3), Badminton Association Malaysia (BAM) head coach Wong Choong Hann tested positive during smear tests on 39 players and coaches at Academy Badminton Malaysia prior to his departure for the BWF Asian Tour in Thailand.
Overall, only one percent or eight of the 632 athletes and officials who had undergone swab tests tested positive.
They are believed to have contracted the virus while on vacation in their places of origin or at home.
Ahmad Shapawi said that after discussions with Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, the NSC’s centralized training ground will continue with a quarantine-based approach for the first two weeks, with athletes and officials banned from leaving. except to their training places.
“This directive will be reviewed after two weeks based on developments on the spread of Covid-19.
“Centralized training facilities can only be used by athletes and coaches. Movement in and out of accommodation and training facilities is not allowed, except for athletes and coaches.
“Sanitation will be carried out in all training and accommodation centers on a weekly basis. This will be implemented immediately.
“This step is taken in accordance with established standard operating procedure (SOP) and NSC’s commitment to ensuring that national athletes are in their best health and condition to undergo training,” said Ahmad Shapawi.
He said this would apply to all training centers.
Meanwhile, the athletes who did not show up today to train will do so tomorrow at their respective training centers. – Bernama
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