COVID Cases Mar Judo Grand Slam Preparations

(ATR) The press in Havana revealed that three Cuban competitors have been infected with COVID-19 in Tbilisi, Georgia, three days before the start of the Judo Grand Slam.

This tournament had been canceled last year due to the coronavirus.

According to the site "Jit", of the National Institute of Sports of Cuba (INDER), the shadow of COVID-19 threatens the participation of several of the 513 competitors from 83 countries.

"At this time there are several athletes confirmed as positive for the disease, including three of the eight Cubans present" in Tbilisi, the publication reported.

According to the report and to a communication received in Havana, apparently from those responsible for the Caribbean delegation, the three infected Cuban judokas "remain asymptomatic and isolated in separate rooms on a floor of the Tower Tbilisi hotel".

The remaining members of the Cuban delegation - five athletes, two coaches and the doctor - are also staying at the same facility, which was used for the training camp prior to the competition. They are "all negative in the five PCR tests carried out."

On Tuesday they will undergo another test for the virus.

"Everything indicates that the origin of the infections had to do with an athlete from Germany, which triggered the alarms since last March 17," quoted the note from "Jit".

The three positive Cuban athletes, who were not identified by their names, will undergo another examination on the fifth day of their confirmed positive test, complying with the protocol of the International Judo Federation (IJF).

It is unknown if the competition organizers have reported the total number of infections.

There are no signs so far that the epidemiological situation could jeopardize the event which is scheduled to run from March 26-28. The tournament champions will be awarded a thousand pointsin the Olympic qualification process for Tokyo.

The tournament is taking place as Georgia eases restrictions related to the pandemic.

Since last week, restaurants can offer live music to their customers, while cinemas and family entertainment centers will resume operations from April 1.

The local government made the decision to allow a limited number of spectators to attend the football match between Georgia and Spain scheduled for March 28 in the qualifying round for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, The 30 percent of capacity restriction at the stadium will also be in place for the venue for the Tbilisi Judo Grand Slam.

Written and reported by Miguel Hernandez

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