ICC T20 World Cup – ICC Bio Bubble norms: The T20 World Cup starts October 17th and the International Cricket Council (ICC) understandably is not ready to take any chances. ICC has released strict Bio-Bubble norms after taking advice from people who were involved with the Bio-Security for Formula 1, UEFA Euro 2020 & the Tokyo Olympics – Follow ICC T20 World Cup LIVE Updates on InsideSport.in
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“We’ve spoken to the people who oversaw biosafety for the Tokyo Olympics, we’ve spoken to Formula 1, the Euros, of course the IPL which has been running locally in recent weeks here, and there has been a lot of bilateral cricket that plenty of learning has come from,” Alex Marshall, the head of integrity and biosafety at the ICC declared.“We’ve taken some good advice.”
Managed biosecure environments, psychologists available 24 hours a day, and all players fully vaccinated.
— ICC (@ICC) October 8, 2021
A number of measures have been taken to ensure the Men’s #T20WorldCup runs safely 👇https://t.co/Cpdr1K9opr
ICC T20 World Cup: ICC Bio Bubble norms announced after taking advice from Formula 1, UEFA & Tokyo Olympics Bio-Security teams
ICC T20 World Cup – ICC Bio Bubble norms: Almost 2000 individuals – including broadcasters, staff and players – will get involved in the tournament and many of those entering managed environments, the ICC are determined to create a setting that is safe from both a physical and mental health perspective.
Teams will have to strictly follow Bio-Bubble norms & anyone testing positive will be isolated for 10 days.
Not only players but fans will also have to be fully vacinated and adhere to the Bio-Bubble norms which includes wearing mask all the times.
BIO-BUBBLE for ICC T20 World Cup – Queries & Doubts Cleared
FOR PLAYERS / TEAMS
How will teams / players enter into Bio-Bubble? On arrival to the tournament, participants will go into six days isolation during which they will have three COVID tests to ensure no one entering the next stage of the process is infected.
What happens if there is a positive case in the bubble?
If someone tests positive, even if they are asymptomatic, that person will need to isolate for ten days.
What happens with the close and casual contacts?
A close contact is defined as someone who is not wearing a mask and is less than two metres from the individual for at least 15 minutes and 48 hours prior to test/symptoms. The close contacts, Marshall said, would need to isolate for six days.
For casual contacts – those who are within physical contact but have their faces covered – there will be a 24-hour period where they are tested and accordingly released.
What happens if an opposition team does not want to or is anxious about taking the field due to positive case/s in the rival camp or due to some other concern related to Covid-19?
Such a scenario would be dealt with by the Biosafety Scientific Advisory Group (BSAG). The BSAG would be headed by an independent chair in Dr Gurjit B. Also part of the expert panel are: Dr Abhijit Salvi (event chief medical officer), Dr Peter Harcourt (chair, ICC medical advisory committee), and Dr Dave Musker (ICC Covid compliance officer).
What happens if a player needs to leave the bubble to go to the hospital for scans/treatment?
Dedicated biosecure hospitals and detailed protocols are in place to protect the player as well as the integrity of the bubble.
Will families be allowed in the tournament bubble?
According to ICC – “Small number of families” will be allowed.
FOR FANS
Do crowds need to be doubly vaccinated?
In Oman and Abu Dhabi, fans need to be doubly vaccinated to be at the stadium, but not in Dubai and Sharjah.
Will fans need to wear masks?
Yes.
Can the fans interact with players?
Players would be “kept separate” and would not be “mixing directly, physically” with the fans.
WHAT THE TOURNAMENT LOOKS LIKE FOR PARTICIPANTS: How the BIO-BUBBLE NORMS will work?
- On arrival to the tournament, participants will go into six days isolation during which they will have three COVID tests to ensure no one entering the next stage of the process is infected.
- After those six days, participants are moved into a managed event environment for the duration of the tournament, undergoing periodic testing.
- Everybody taking part in the event has been fully vaccinated.
- In order to maintain the managed event environment, participants will be kept away from the public.
- A psychologist will be available 24 hours a day for anyone who seeks it, while other measures are being taken to make the bubble as enjoyable an environment as possible.
- Alongside this will be the allowance of close family to join the bubble – under the same regulations as everyone else – and recreational opportunities outside of cricket.
- If a positive case does arise, and the ICC expects that could happen given the evidence of major events around the world in other sports, a process is in place to address it.
