The majority of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) cohort have arrived in St Kitts & Nevis ahead of the tournament which gets underway on August 26.
255 travelers have arrived and entered the tournament bubble and following a rigorous testing process, there have been two cases of COVID-19 detected. A comprehensive contact tracing process has taken place along with additional testing and no further cases have been identified.
According to a release from the organisers, the two individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 are isolating as per the comprehensive protocols that have been put together by the tournament organising committee, Hero CPL’s medical advisors and the health authorities in St Kitts & Nevis.
Michael Hall, Hero CPL’s Tournament Operations Director, said: “The two positive cases were identified quickly following on arrival testing and were flagged with Hero CPL while in-room quarantine was still taking place for those individuals. The tournament bubble remains intact and there has been no exposure to the wider public in the Federation. We are looking forward to getting the cricket underway on the 26 August.”
Minister of Sport in St Kitts and Nevis Jonel Powell told Newsday, “(The) two cases that came up one is a player, the other one is a minor who is related to one of the players. Both were picked up based on inbound PCR testing and have at all times been in isolation which is part of that robust set of protocols that I would have mentioned.”
Powell is optimistic that the tournament can be held with little incidents. “The risk of them spreading that to other persons within the bubble is minimal at best and so it is through these protocols we have that sort of confidence that the games will come off smoothly.”
No positive tests were confirmed during last year’s edition, but the covid19 numbers in the Caribbean were lower during last year’s tournament compared to this year.
St Kitts and Nevis has controlled the spread of covid19 as to date 823 cases have been recorded in the country along with three deaths.
Fully vaccinated fans can attend 25 of the 33 matches during the 2021 CPL at 50% capacity.
Fans were not allowed in last year’s edition.