Five members of the Australian women’s Olympic water polo team have tested positive for Covid-19, according to Australian chef de mission Anna Meares. Four of the five athletes now feel well enough to train and compete, she noted. The fifth athlete seems close to joining them.
A larger outbreak among participants in the upcoming games has not been reported, but these cases serve as a reminder. Covid-19 has not gone away.
The Covid precautions for the Paris Olympics differ dramatically from the precautions for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which were delayed until 2021. Evy Leibfarth, a canoer and kayaker on Team USA who competed in the 2020 Olympics and will compete again in Paris, reflected on the differences. She noted that in 2021, “we tested every day for a month leading into the Olympics and then every day while we were there.” Athletes were not allowed to leave the Olympic Village, and plastic barriers separated them in the dining hall. And most spectators were banned.
Leibfarth said the vibe is much more relaxed this year. “We’re all being careful and trying to avoid public transportation and crowded places as much as possible. No one wants to get sick,” she remarked. But specific Covid-19 protocols for the athletes are not the norm. Testing of is not required. Masking is not required either.
Of course, the pandemic is much different now than it was then. Globally, the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths have decreased significantly. And today, over half of the world population has been vaccinated, according to data provided by the World Health Organization. Certainly, SARS-CoV-2 remains a threat and Covid-19 can have a significant impact on people, especially the elderly and those with various underlying conditions. But we’re in a better place than we were just a few years ago.
Another difference for Evy Leibfarth and the other athletes competing in Paris? Enthusiastic fans from all over the world will be there to cheer them on.
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