Rohit Sharma of India bats during the Group Stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between South Africa and India at The Hampshire Bowl on June 05, 2019 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
Coronavirus: Proteas to tour India after risk assessment clears trip
Coronavirus does not pose a significant threat to the well-being of Proteas team members and staff and their proposed tour to India will go ahead.
Rohit Sharma of India bats during the Group Stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between South Africa and India at The Hampshire Bowl on June 05, 2019 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
Cricket South Africa have assessed the risk of coronavirus causing harm to the Proteas players and staff on their short tour of India and opted to go ahead with the trip.
CSA’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shuaib Manjra, will travel with the team as both team doctor and medical advisor.
Coronavirus will not halt Proteas tour to India
India have confirmed 29 cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus) infection while South Africa confirmed its first case earlier this week. Most of the cases reported in India have been linked to travel to Italy, like the first South African case.
The Proteas are scheduled to play three ODIs in India. First in Dharamshala (12 March), then Lucknow (15 March) and Kolkata (18 March).
CSA have considered the advice of the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the South African Department of Health and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).
“Cricket South Africa (CSA) is fully conscious of the risks presented in regard to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and has engaged in a formal risk assessment process to ensure the health and safety of and duty of care to our players and staff,” a CSA statement reads.
“This risk assessment is informed by information provided by international experts, the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the South African Department of Health and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).
“We have also been liaising with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the South African embassy in India and Indian security and risk experts. The government of India has also provided the necessary assurances.
Travel plans
“The Proteas will be traveling to India via Dubai and landing and spending a day in Delhi, then proceeding to play in Dharamshala, Lucknow and Kolkata. None of the playing venues have recorded positive cases and travel between these cities will be via chartered flights reducing the risk even further. The risks in Dubai and Delhi are considered low.
“While the risk remains low, precautionary measures are necessary because of the highly infectious nature of the disease. The team has been appraised of hygiene precautions, avoidance measures, and symptom recognition in addition to being provided with travel kits.
“CSA Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shuaib Manjra will be travelling with the team as Team Doctor and will keep abreast of developments in India and worldwide and advise CSA and team management accordingly.”
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