United States: As many as 40 athletes have tested positive for COVID-19 infection at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, including a few from Team USA. The athletes have tested positive for the infection in the last two weeks.
The cases among the athletes have been increasing rapidly has raised questions about the safety measures being followed at the Paris Olympics.
The currently happening Games are considered to be the first Olympics to happen post-pandemic. It is to be noted that unlike the postponed 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, no stricter protocols associated with COVID are being followed in Paris.
But the situation is concerning because the infection has once again spreading around the world. The United States have been facing an upsurge in the cases amid the summer wave, along with this, virus has also been rising in Europe, including the Olympic village.
In Europe, the COVID-19 test positivity rate is at 20 percent, whereas across the world, it is about 10 percent, according to the statistics shared by the director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention at the WHO – Dr Maria Van Kerkhove. The stats were shared during a UN press briefing on Tuesday.
Van Kerkhove further stated, “In recent months, regardless of the season, many countries have experienced surges of COVID-19, including at the Olympics where at least 40 athletes have tested positive.”
COVID-Positive Olympians and their Nations!
The exact number of COVID-19-positive cases at the Paris Olympics is not clear, as testing and reporting via teams differ from one to another. However, the total number of COVID-positive athletes in the Olympic Games is:
Sprinter Noah Lyles – United States
Swimmer Zac Stubblety-Cook – Australia
Swimmer Lani Pallister – Australia
In addition to this, the official statement by the Australia Olympic Committee (AOC) has mentioned that as many as 44 athletes have tested positive for some or other kind of respiratory or gastrointestinal infection. Accordingly, as many as 85 people were tested; out of them, 31 tested positive for an illness, and around 16 tested positive for COVID-19.
Australian Team Doctor – Dr Carolyn Broderick mentioned, “Our testing has been the most extensive and accurate of any Games, allowing early and targeted treatment.”
The doctor continued, “Some illnesses were detected on arrival, others during training or competition, and some after competition. With more than 1,000 Australians in Team accommodation, these results are modest and in line with expectations.”
In addition to this, AOC said, “We have a range of protocols in place which include mask wearing and isolation where needed but we are making every attempt to ensure athletes can continue to train and compete.”
Decathlete Manuel Eitel – Germany
Swimmer Sasha Batt – Malta
Swimmer Adam Peaty – Great Britain
A COVID-19 outbreak at the Olympics?
The officials have confirmed that 40 athletes have been tested positive for the disease at the Paris Olympics. The NBC News medical contributor Dr. Kavita Patel, who has expertise in public health and pandemic preparedness, has outlined that the total number of cases and the intensity of the spread has not met the threshold to be considered as an outbreak, according to TODAY.com.
Patel further mentioned that as per the existing guidelines, if 11,000 of the athletes – which is 5 percent of the total – contract COVID-19 in a week, then the situation will be considered an outbreak.
The professor of infectious disease at Vanderbilt University Medical Center – Dr William Schaffner, stated, “I would call it a cluster of infections. Some might call it a small outbreak … but that’s usually a designation (from) local public health investigators,” according to the reports by TODAY.com.
In addition to this Schaffner stated, “The actual number of athletes infected, whether with symptoms or without or very mild symptoms, might be notably higher.”
The health expert mentioned, “Anytime you have a large congregation of people in one place like this … you’re going to expect that there will be transmission and acquisition of respiratory infections. At the top of the list is COVID since it’s spreading very widely and effectively at the present time.”