ISL to have own Covid testing facility in Goa

PANAJI: The organisers of Indian Super League (ISL) will set up their own Covid-19 testing laboratory in Goa for players, officials, broadcast team and all else who are associated with the five-month football tournament.
The biggest sporting event to take place in the country during the pandemic will see 10 teams and nearly 1,000 people, including players and officials, be a part of the tournament. “The lab will be situated at a hotel and will be set up after consultations with the state administration. This will ensure that there is no strain on Goa’s health facilities when everyone arrives here,” said a source, who has been tracking the development.
“The organisers will have their own doctors and nurses, who will take swabs and then do the testing. Players and officials will not be allowed to move out of the bio-bubble. Instead, swabs will be taken at the hotel itself,” said the source.
A total of 500 players, officials and support staff of teams are expected in Goa for the ISL that will be played from November 21 to March 21. Another 150-200 staff will be from the broadcasters, while league staff, accredited agencies and security will take the personnel involved in the tournament to nearly 1,000 people.
Players and officials, who will start arriving here in October, have been told to obtain Covid-19 negative certificates from their home cities, 48 hours before arriving in Goa. As a precautionary measure, more tests will be done upon arrival and they will have to spend some time in isolation, even if they test negative for Covid-19.
Another official said ISL has put together a central medical team and hired a league hygiene officer who will oversee health protocols.
“It’s mandatory for all participating clubs to have a hygiene officer of their own. This officer will be tasked with ensuring that all medical protocols are followed,” said the official.
Everyone associated with the league will be classified into three groups—high protection, medium protection and general protection.
The all-important high protection group includes players, team officials and families. Television presenters have also been included in this group since they would be interacting with players and officials on a regular basis. Members of this group will be tested twice to three times every week for Covid-19.
The medium protection group which includes league, hotel staff and management officials will be tested twice a week, while the general protection group—accredited staffers—will have to mandatorily undergo one test every week.