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SINGAPORE: Two cornerbacks scheduled to be part of the mixed martial arts promotion company ONE Championship live sporting event on Friday (October 30) tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday.
Responding on Thursday to inquiries from the CNA sent out on Wednesday, ONE Championship and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) confirmed that the two cornerbacks tested positive as part of the event detection protocols.
The joint statement did not mention the people affected or who the cornerbacks are.
Both men tested negative for COVID-19 before flying to Singapore from the US and Russia, and also tested negative for coronavirus upon arrival.
However, they tested positive on Tuesday and serological tests were performed the next day to “determine if their infection is current,” according to the statement.
Serological tests were positive in both men.
The Ministry of Health “has determined that these are past cases of infection, after epidemiological investigations,” ONE and STB said.
“Recovered cases can continue to shed non-viable, non-infectious viral fragments for weeks or even months after infection, which can lead to positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results.”
Both men will undergo PCR testing again on Thursday as an “additional measure” and will only be allowed to participate in the event if their results are negative, ONE and STB said.
“These tests are in line with ONE’s protocol and Singapore government regulations for the event: that all overseas-based athletes and their production team must be tested four times (1 before departure in the country origin, 1 on arrival, 1 before fight and 1 post-fight).
“They must also remain in isolation until they receive a negative test result, after which they will follow a strictly controlled and pre-approved schedule.”
During a fight, a cornerback provides assistance to an MMA fighter. Their duties typically include applying ice to reduce swelling and making sure the fighter is sufficiently hydrated.
CNA has reached out to ONE Championship to obtain more information on the cases, including their arrival date in Singapore.
UP TO 250 SPECTATORS
Friday’s event, titled ONE: Inside the Matrix, is expected to have up to 250 viewers, according to ONE Championship. It will also be one of the first to test the use of rapid COVID-19 antigen (ART) tests.
The ARTs will be used for pre-event tests, which can yield “fairly accurate” results in about half an hour, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said Oct. 20.
On Saturday, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) Sports Director Ong Ling Lee said that foreign athletes and the production team participating in the event must undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing “at various times” even before departure, upon arrival in Singapore, as well as before and after fights.
Local athletes and the ring crew will also be subject to mandatory testing before and after fights.
Additionally, all fans attending the ONE: Inside the Matrix event will be required to undergo COVID-19 testing and present a valid negative ART certificate before they are allowed to enter the event.
READ: One Championship promises strict COVID-19 measures for Singapore MMA
“Since ART is by appointment only, attendees should reserve a spot at any of the designated clinics before heading (to the event) to avoid crowds,” said Ms Ong Ling Lee, STB Director of Sports.
“People who test positive for ART will need to undergo a PCR confirmation swab to determine their COVID-19 status.”
He said the tourism board has worked with ONE to “refine and implement a rigorous set of safe management measures.”
These measures include the mandatory use of the TraceTogether app and / or the token, and a secure seating plan based on government security measures.
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