SEVEN national athletes, including five para athletes, were confirmed to be Covid-19 positive after undergoing tests before the start of their quarantine-based approach training today.

The National Sports Council, in a statement, said those infected were from athletics (2), wheelchair tennis (2), wheelchair basketball (2), tenpin bowling (1) and one boccia official. 

Council’s director-general Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said the individuals detected positive had been isolated pending further action by the Health Ministry.

“We have also segregated athletes who might have been in close contact with those infected.

“Swabs will be conducted on the fourth day. Those whose results are negative but symptomatic would have to undergo quarantine for up to 10 days. Tests will be conducted on the ninth day to confirm they are free from infection,” he added.

A total of 466 of the 735 athletes under the Podium Programme and national back-up athletes and officials have undergone tests at their respective training centres, coordinated by the council and the National Sports Institute.

The tests were done at the Taman Keramat sports complex involving 38 of 41 athletes and coaches, apart from the Kg Pandan Paralympic Excellence Complex, involving 89 of 91 para athletes and coaches.

Yesterday, Badminton Association of Malaysia coaching director Wong Choong Hann was found positive during tests done on 39 players and coaches at the Malaysian Badminton Academy prior to their departure for the BWF Asian Tour in Thailand. 

Overall, only 1% – eight out of 632 athletes and officials who had undergone tests – confirmed positive. They are believed to have contracted the virus while on leave in their hometowns or homes.

The statement said after discussions with Youth and Sports Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican, the council’s centralised training camp would continue on a quarantine-based approach for the first two weeks, with athletes and officials barred from leaving except to their training venues.

“This directive will be reviewed after two weeks based on developments on the spread of the infection. Centralised training facilities can be used only by athletes and coaches. Movements in and out of the accommodation and training premises are not allowed except for athletes and coaches.

“Sanitisation will be carried out at every training and accommodation centre on a weekly basis. This will be implemented immediately. This step is taken in accordance with the set standard operating procedure and the council’s commitment in ensuring national athletes are in their best health and condition to undergo training,” said Ahmad. 

He said this would be enforced at all training centres – Bukit Jalil national sports complex, the Kg Pandan complex, the Taman Keramat complex, Langkawi cruise complex, the national badminton academy, Nilai National Velodrome and Mokhtar Dahari Football Academy.

Meanwhile, athletes who did not report for training today will do so tomorrow at their respective training centres. – Bernama, January 4, 2021.