Commonwealth Games Federation confident in its approach to Covid-19

By: Gyang Dakwo 

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has expressed confidence in Birmingham 2022 organizers’ approach to COVID-19, despite athletes being hit by positive tests.

Peter Harcourt, the medical Advisor for the CGF, revealed that Birmingham 2022 had been experiencing a “dozen” cases a day following the arrival of up to 1,400 athletes in the English city.

Birmingham 2022’s COVID-19 policy has been questioned by some leading team officials, but Harcourt has defended the measures implemented by organizers.

His words: “We are in the middle of a really tough time in the pandemic. It’s complex, it’s changing all the time but I am pretty happy with the way things are here.”

According to him, “They have done an excellent job and we’ve got lots of testing coming in so we can address the issues and keep the competitions going. I am really confident that we are going to be managing COVID -19 risk well.”

“Britain has removed all coronavirus entry rules for travelers, but Birmingham 2022 has told those attending the Games they will need to undergo testing. Athletes have been required to take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for the virus before traveling to Birmingham and another upon arrival,” he explained. 

Competitors are required to undergo COVID-19 testing before gaining entry into the Athletes’ Villages but If athletes test positive, Harcourt said that they would handle the situation on a case-by-case basis with each infected individual undergoing a risk assessment before deciding whether they should be placed in isolation.