New Delhi: Indian Sports Authority (SAI) on Monday said that he had decided to cover 67 training centers throughout the country due to the increasing case of Covid-19 but the national camps for elite athletes would continue in bio-bubbles.
The decision would not have an impact on the center of the National Advantage (NCOE) as in Patiala and Bengaluru where the camp for elite athletes was ongoing in various disciplines.
“Given the increase in Covid-19 cases, Indian sports authorities have decided to cover 67 Sai training centers throughout the country,” Sai said in a statement.
“The decision also came after the direction issued by various countries to suspend sports activities for the safety of athletes,” he added.
The centers will be reopened after reviewing the situation in time.
“There is no change in the training schedule of elite athletes’ training for Asian and Commonwealth games this year.
They practiced in bio-bubbles in Ncoes and followed all preventive measures,” Sai PTI spokesman said.
India reported an increase of 1,79,723 Covid-19 cases on Monday.
The number of active cases has increased to 7.23,619, the highest in around 204 days, while the death toll has risen to 4,83,936 with 146 deaths reported this morning by the Ministry of Health.
With some cases of Covid-19 reported in the top training facility in the country, Sai has last week ordered the implementation of a more stringent protocol, including weekly testing of all athletes and support staff on campuses throughout the country.
The more tighter was announced after 24 sportsmen and 12 supporting staff members were tested positive for the virus in the center of Bhopal Sai.
Also last week, 35 junior athletes at the Indian Bengaluru Facility Sports Authority, who participated in various national events, had tested a very contagious virus positive.
It was after the Nodal sports body had carried out a random test of 210 people consisting of 175 athletes and 35 trainers.
On March 31 last year, 30 sports staff and support staff throughout the discipline were found Covid-19 positive after 741 prudential tests were carried out at the center of national advantage in Patiala and Bengaluru.
SAI also formed a panel to monitor the implementation of SOPs, quarantine norms, isolation facilities and suggest steps to contain the spread of Covid-19.