Another setback for South Africa, after 3 footballers, rugby team coach tests Covid positive • InsideSport

Tokyo Olympics: Another South African failure, after 3 players, tested the rugby coach Kovido positive: South Africa rugby coach Sevens Neil Powell was tested positive for COVID-19, authorities said on Sunday, the fourth confirmed infection for
country before the Olympics.

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Powell underwent a positive test on arrival in Japan, and separately at Kagashima, where the Team of Sevens are in the pre-match camp.

Following earlier confirmation on Sunday, it appears that two players and an official of the South African football team participating in the Games were also tested positive.

Defender Tabiso Monyane and offender Camohelo Mahlatsi as well as video analyst Mario Masha are also in isolation as the team faces Japan in an open match against the hosts on Thursday.

The South African team’s chief medical officer, Dr. Fatho Zondi, said they were surprised by the infections, but he believed all protocols had been followed for the country’s athletes participating in the Games.

“Every member of the South African team was required to undergo a complete medical cleanup as a standard of compliance,” Zondi said in a statement.

“Furthermore, they were encouraged to leave for two weeks before the trip, monitor their health condition daily, show signs, and undergo two negative PCR tests within 96 hours of flight in accordance with Tokyo 2020 requirements.

“Time of positive results shows that PCR testing in these individuals was carried out during the incubation period of the infection, how they can be negative in South Africa and then positive in Japan.

Also read: Tokyo Olympics.

The Sevens rugby tournament, in which South Africa is among the favorites, kicks off on July 26th.