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SENIOR DOCTOR of Jamaica’s World Youth Championship team, David Walcott, is optimistic the nine athletes who are being quarantined in Kenya after testing positive for COVID-19 will turn in negative results when they are tested again tomorrow.
Walcott revealed that only one of the nine has produced a negative result thus far, but was quick to point out that the individual has already completed an automatic 10-day quarantine requirement, while the others are due to finish their isolation period this week.
“They test every four days. The last test was on Sunday. They are due another one at the end of this week and that should really grant them exit,” he said.
“Because of their (Kenyan authorities) testing cycle, a lot of recovery would have happened in those four days. One (athlete) has recovered, eight still have COVID. But the good thing is they are on their way to recovery. They all got positive at the same time, so you’d expect them to be negative at the same time,” Dr Walcott explained.
“Those eight have not completed their 10 days of quarantine, while the one who has recovered has completed his 10 days, so it is just a matter of waiting it out with the rest of the people,” he continued.
He is also hopeful the others will test negative and be cleared to finally travel home.
“By this week they would have completed their 10 days. They are not symptomatic, which suggests they are not very infectious. So it is just a matter of of totally clearing the virus, as they no longer have fatigue or headaches, so I am very optimistic about this week,” he continued.
“I will go as far as to posit that the majority is more than likely to turn up negative in their testing bout by the end of this week,” he stated.
He added that the athletes are eager to return home and were all in good physical and mental condition.
“They are, naturally, impatient to leave. But they are doing well psychologically. Everybody is physically healthy,” Dr Walcott said.
The young Jamaicans, who captured 11 medals – three gold, six silver and two bronze – at the championships held in Nairobi, Kenya, from August 18-22, have been in isolation since the final day of the championships.
livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com
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