FILE – Toshikazu Yamanishi of Team Japan celebrates winning the gold in the Men’s 20km Hiking Finals on the first day of the Oregon22 World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field on July 15, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon. Hannah Peters / Getty Images for World Athletics / AFP
Organizers say seven members of the Japanese team at the World Athletics Championships, including two marathon runners, have tested positive for COVID-19.
A joint statement from World Athletics, the Japan Association of Athletics Federations and local organizers said the outbreak hit athletes and endurance staff at the championships in Oregon.
Two marathon runners, four support staff and the team’s head coach have tested positive.
The identities of the individuals involved were not disclosed.
The statement said seven people have been quarantined and will be quarantined for five days.
“Steps are being taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 both within the Japanese team as well as among all teams present at the Championship,” the statement said.
“All athletes have been fully vaccinated as required to participate in these Championships.”
As a precaution, all remaining members of the Japanese delegation will be asked not to share common spaces with other delegations.
It said members of the Japanese group would “stay as much as possible, independently arranged to prevent the spread of contamination within the Japanese delegation”.
The outbreak comes amid a surge in infections across the US as new variants of COVID-19 continue to persist.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week said 21 of Oregon’s 36 counties are currently considered “high” risk for the virus.
Not a statement I wanted to make on the morning of my WC Qualifier
Good luck to the team and now I’m going to shift all my energy to CWG and Europe. pic.twitter.com/ZMU9AThcX9– Morgan Lake (@morgan_a_lake) July 16, 2022
Earlier on Saturday, British athlete Morgan Lake announced she had been forced to withdraw from the World Championships after testing positive for COVID-19.
Lake said she has spent five days in isolation without showing any symptoms but is still testing positive for the virus.
“Having bad times and possibly being exposed to Covid during world champions week,” Lake wrote on Twitter.
“It was absolutely heartbreaking to have to watch from my hotel room and while I was grateful to feel 100% fine, it was even more frustrating to know that I was physically ready to compete but wasn’t. maybe,” she tweeted.
BUT RELATED STORY
Get the hottest sports news straight to your inbox
For more news on the new coronavirus, click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information about COVID-19, call your local DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 1149/1150.
The Inquirer supports our healthcare online workers and is still accepting cash donations to deposit into Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #00796001860 or donate via PayMaya using use this account link .
Continue reading
Register INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer and more than 70 other titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to news, download as early as 4am and share articles on media society. Call 896 6000.
For feedback, complaints or enquiries, Contact us.
