Olympics: Czech Olympic team staff member tests positive for COVID-19

PRAGUE: A Czech Olympic team staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Tokyo on a charter flight from Prague, Czech Olympic officials said on Saturday (Jul 17), adding that all the athletes were fine and in the Olympic Village.

The staff member - who had two negative PCR tests before departure and had no symptoms - is now in isolation along with several close contacts from the plane, team officials said in a statement. They did not name the staff member.

"Within two hours we implemented an action plan and we prepared individual rooms for all athletes and members of the escort from the plane who arrived in the village," Martin Doktor, sports director of the Czech Olympic Committee said.

"In any case, the training activities and plans of the athletes are not limited in any way."

READ: First COVID-19 case hits Tokyo Olympics Village

Earlier on Saturday, Tokyo Olympics organisers reported the first case of COVID-19 at the athletes' village, along with 14 other new cases connected to the Games that begin next week, raising fresh doubts over promises of a "safe and secure" event.

Postponed for a year due to the global pandemic, the Games are being held mostly without spectators and under tight quarantine rules. Most athletes are starting to arrive for the Olympics, which run from Jul 23 to Aug 8.

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