A 19th new case of COVID-19 was confirmed associated with the Tokyo Olympics on Friday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases associated with the games to 100. A fourth athlete from the Czech Republic tested positive for the virus – road cyclist Michal Schlegel.
On the day when the Games, which will commence in Tokyo without spectators and less than 1,000 dignitaries, were set to officially open, this worrying milestone was reached. Three athletes and ten concerned Games staff, three media representatives and as many contractors associated with the event have tested positive, according to the organizers’ daily COVID-19 update. As of Friday, 106 cases were directly connected to the Games, of which 11 were athletes.
While investigating health safety protocols as part of their Japan trip, the Czech contingent reported its sixth overall case.
“The fourth athlete and the sixth Czech member of the team, who did not avoid a positive test for COVID-19 at the Tokyo Olympics, is road cyclist Michal Schlegel,” the country’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) stated.
“His positive antigen test was also confirmed by PCR analysis in a cycling village in Izu. Now Schlegel is back in the hotel for road cyclists in isolation,” it added.
There are also reports that a men’s long jumper from Jamaica, Carey McLeod has also tested positive in his own country, thus disqualifying him from participating in the Games. Vlastimil Voracek, the doctor of the Czech contingent, tested positive for the virus as well.
