Ahead of the most awaited Commonwealth Games 2022 the organizing committee has announced mandatory pre and post-arrival negative COVID tests for all participants owing to the increased COVID-19 cases in England.
Commonwealth Games 2022 COVID19 Guidelines
According to the latest guidelines, all athletes and officials are required to take a polymerase chain reaction test before traveling to Birmingham and then another upon arrival at the Games.
Though Britain has removed all Coronavirus entry rules for travelers, Birmingham 2022 has informed the participant National Commonwealth Games Federations that “all those attending the Games will need to undergo testing in a bid to reduce the threat of Covid-19”.
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According to a report on the influential Olympic Games website, insidethegames.com, several recommendations are also being made by Birmingham 2022 to ensure “everyone has the best possible chance of attending and enjoying the Games.”
The revised measures include social distancing, increasing ventilation, maintaining personal hygiene, minimising physical contact, avoiding staying for “unnecessarily long periods of time in crowded areas” and wearing masks “in indoor settings while in close proximity to athletes and on Games transport”, the report said.
Though the event organizing committee considers the Games are a “low” risk of spreading Covid-19 after completing the World Health Organization’s mass gathering risk assessment, the rising cases have prompted them to be more cautious and insist on Covid tests.
The Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 will be held from July 28 to August 8 with around 5000 athletes from 72 nations and territories due to compete in the tournament.