Omicron Scare: Sports Authority of India issues fresh guidelines

Due to the sudden increase in Covid-19 cases, the Sports Authority of India has issued fresh Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to deal with it. It is believed that the rise in these cases is due to the new variant Omicron.

These measures will be strictly implemented to contain the increase in infection at the various National Centres of Excellence (NCOE) as well as the ongoing national coaching camps.

“Upon arrival to the training centres, all athletes will undergo mandatory Rapid Antigen Test (RAT). If the test comes negative, they will train and dine separately until the sixth day of joining. A repeat of the RAT would take place on the 5th day. The ones who get a positive result would undergo an RTPCR test and be treated in isolation, while the athletes testing negative would continue normal training,” the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports said.

It added, “Proper isolation facilities are being earmarked for Covid positive or symptomatic athletes across the camps and the facilities would be sanitized twice a day. There will also be a micro bio-bubble, where the athletes will be divided into small groups for training and dining. The athletes have also been strictly asked to avoid interacting with other groups.”

Besides, it also informed that there will also be random testing of athletes, coaches, support staff and non-residential staff in the NCOE, once every 15 days. “It has also been recommended that athletes would be participating in only those competitions recommended by the respective National Sports Federations (NSFs) and the SAI HQ officials. For invitational tournaments and non-Olympic qualifying events, recommendations would be made by the respective Regional Directors (RDs) of the NCOEs,” the Ministry said.