Despite the rise in COVID-19 cases in the southern center of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), officials are quietly confident that the situation will not spiral out of control. The situation this year is nothing compared to the devastating second wave last summer. According to sources, with no competition taking place immediately, the athletes are not worried unnecessarily.
“All indoor activities have been canceled and people inside the facility have been instructed to be more responsible. All national campers and people in the Center of Excellence have been barred from going out from January 3,” the source said.
The formation of COVID-19 clusters inside the SAI center is in line with the cases reported at several sporting venues across the country, which all operate under varying degrees of restrictions and safety measures.
Cases have been reported in the Indian Super League bubble of football in Goa and at two back-to-back badminton tournaments in Delhi and Lucknow, the India Open and the Syed Modi International respectively.
Earlier this month, the Ranji Trophy preparations of various cricket teams, including Karnataka, were affected due to positive cases. With the pandemic spreading across most parts of the country, the tournament itself is set to be cancelled.
Those in the know attribute the rise in cases within SAI to a series of inter-university sporting events held in December. Some government departments also held meetings, which meant that there was frequent movement of people in and out of the campus. In recent times, however, the protocol has been tightened considerably. There is continuous testing of athletes and staff in weekly and fortnightly cycles, with those who test positive entering a 7-day isolation period.
“Temperature and pulse oxygen levels are recorded three times a day and if they are consistent, a test is performed on the sixth or seventh day.” If negative, they are allowed to take 50% of the training load to begin with, before gradually building up. Similarly, the primary contacts are monitored and tested at an isolated place. ,
Trainer Hindu Expressed confidence in the panel constituted by Regional Director Ritu A Pathik in early January to closely monitor the implementation of the SOP. “There has not been any case that required hospitalization till now. Doctors Monica Ghuge and Rashid along with the medical staff are in good spirits and the athletes are confident. Oxygen cylinders have been prepared for emergencies. We have a system in place and we are not too worried,” the source said.