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Second Australian water polo player tests positive for Covid

Another Australian water polo player has tested positive for Covid on the eve of the Paris Olympics as team officials took action to reduce the risk of infection among the squad.

Australia’s Olympic swimming team has arrived in Paris for the 2024 Olympics – but one detail has left fans wondering.

The Australian Olympic Committee confirmed a second positive case on Tuesday, about four hours after Anna Meares announced the first case of the disease on the Australian Olympic team.

The AOC did not disclose the identities of either player, but said the first player who tested positive on Monday evening did not train on Tuesday, while the second athlete was in good condition to train.

“The player who tested positive for Covid last night chose not to train with his teammates this afternoon,” AOC said in a statement.

“All close contacts have been tested. A second player who was in close contact also tested positive, but he is well enough to train.

Two water polo players tested positive. Image: Getty

“The Water Polo team correctly followed the Australian Olympic Team Respiratory Illness protocols which allowed for early detection and treatment. A reminder has been sent to all teams to reinforce the protocols.

“No other athletes on Team Australia have been diagnosed with COVID and teams and officials will continue to implement common sense precautions in line with Team protocols.”

Meares said the Australian team was taking all illnesses that occurred within the Olympic village seriously and was working to prevent the spread of the disease in the final days before the competition, which could affect athletes’ performance.

“At this point, we treat it like any other respiratory illness,” Meares said.

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“The symptoms appeared late last night.

“I have to emphasise that we do not treat Covid any differently than other illnesses such as flu. This is not Tokyo. The athlete is not particularly ill and is still training but is sleeping in a single room.

“He is currently doing well, comfortable. We are testing and monitoring his close contacts and roommate.”

The news comes as a growing number of athletes prepare to arrive at the Olympic village, with the Australian swimming team expected to arrive at their accommodation on Tuesday.

Meares said the entire Olympic team has been instructed to wear face masks in crowded areas such as the village mess hall, where athletes often come into contact with competitors from other countries who may not follow strict hygiene procedures to reduce the risk of exposure to any disease, not just Covid.

Anna Meares implemented face mask rules for athletes in the village. Image: Getty

He said athletes would only be suspended from competition on the advice of the team’s chief medical officer.

“Our chief medical officer is the one who will make that decision. What I trust is the protocols that we have in place and what makes me really happy is that they are being followed,” Meares said.

“There is a real sense of respect for all the members of this team who come here, all the athletes have worked for years, even a lifetime, for this moment and in the welcome briefings we inform them about these protocols and recommend that they have a mask in their pocket when they go to the food court and when it is crowded and they are just waiting for the food to be thrown on them.

“We don’t want this last-minute potential illness to undermine their chances of competing here.”