[ad_1]
England’s cricket stars do not need to quarantine themselves over Christmas and New Years, the ECB confirmed.
Players like Jofra Archer and Joe Root waited nervously after Health Secretary Matt Hancock stated on Wednesday that two cases of another new strain of Covid-19, linked to South Africa, had been identified in the UK.
As such, the government is telling those who have been in contact with anyone who has been to South Africa in the past fortnight to self-quarantine.
England’s players left South Africa on Thursday, December 10 after the ECB and CSA postponed the men’s ODI Series.
But following discussions between the ECB and the Government, they have issued a statement confirming: “The Cricket Board of England and Wales (ECB) can confirm that the team members and support staff who returned on 10 December from South Africa, As part of the England men’s white team -ball tour, they have been following Elite Sports International’s guidance regarding activity in the UK.
“During this period, they have undergone continuous symptom checks and tests and it will not be necessary to quarantine them.”
(Image: Getty Images)
They also confirmed good news regarding the upcoming Sri Lanka tour in January.
“With regard to the England men’s test team and support staff, they will continue to prepare as usual before the Tour of Sri Lanka,” the statement continued.
“The touring party is due out on January 2, 2021.
“The ECB will continue to monitor the current situation with regard to international travel and work closely with Sri Lanka Cricket.”
England will play two tests against Sri Lanka, and have already named their team.
The new variant of the Covid-19 virus is fueling a resurgence of the disease in South Africa, leaving experts warning that the country could face a much larger second wave.
Speaking at the Downing Street press conference on Wednesday, the Health Secretary said: “Both are case contacts who have traveled from South Africa in recent weeks.”
He added: “We are incredibly grateful to the South African government for the rigor of their science and the openness and transparency with which they have acted correctly as we did when we discovered a new variant here.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Mr Hancock continued: “This new variant is very concerning because it is even more transmissible and appears to have mutated more than the new variant that has been discovered in the UK.”
The Health Secretary said both the cases and the close contacts of the cases have been quarantined and there are immediate restrictions on travel from South Africa.
He added: “These measurements are temporary while we further investigate this new strain that will soon be tested at Porton Down.”
The South African team began training on Wednesday morning after all 17 players tested negative after a third round of Covid-19 testing ahead of their next test matches with Sri Lanka.
[ad_2]
