Covid strikes SAI Centres – 67 SAI Centres Closed: Sports Authority of India (SAI) has decided to close 67 training centres amid rise in Covid-19 cases in India. Earlier the SAI had issued new Covid-19 protocols for centres but now they have decided to close all SAI Training Centres: Follow LIVE Updates
“In view of rising cases of Covid-19, the Sports Authority of India has decided to close the 67 SAI Training centres across the country,” the SAI said in a statement.
“The decision also comes in the wake of directives issued by various states to suspend sporting activities for the safety of athletes,” it added.
Sports Authority of India decides to close 67 training centres across country in view of rising #COVID19 cases: PTI pic.twitter.com/z3c8S23dav
— TOI Sports (@toisports) January 10, 2022
Covid strikes SAI Centres: Sports Authority of India decides to close 67 training centres amid rise in Covid-19 cases: Follow LIVE Updates
The centres would be reopened after a review of the situation in due course of time.
India reported a rise of 1,79,723 Covid-19 cases on Monday.
This takes the daily positivity rate in the country to 13.29 per cent, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday.
A total of 4,033 cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus have been reported so far. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases (1,216), followed by Rajasthan (529) and Delhi (513).
About 1,552 patients infected with the new variant have recovered. The Ministry further informed that the active caseload in the country currently stands at 7,23,619 which account for 2.03 per cent of the country’s total number of cases.
Covid strikes SAI Centres – 67 SAI Centres Closed: Earlier last week the SAI had updated its Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all National Centres of Excellence (NCOE) and ongoing national coaching camps in the wake of a drastic rise in the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
However, State governments’ guidelines, where existing, will supersede these.
As per the latest guidelines from SAI, all athletes on arrival at the training centres will undergo mandatory Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).
Following a negative result, they will train and dine separately until the sixth day of joining after a repeat of the RAT on the 5th day.
Those returning a positive result for RAT will further take a RTPCR test and be treated in isolation.
There will also be random testing of athletes, coaches, support staff and non-residential staff in the NCOE once every 15 days. It has also been recommended that athletes would participate only in SAI and NSF recommended competitions.
For invitational and non-Olympic qualifying events, recommendations would be made by the respective NCOE regional directors.
