India head coach Ravi Shastri has tested positive for coronavirus. However, he was isolated along with three of his close contacts including team’s bowling coach Bharath Arun as a precautionary measure, the BCCI revealed on Sunday. Shastri returned a positive result on a lateral flow test (Rapid Antigen Test). And he will stay in isolation till the report of his and others’ RT-PCR test reports come.
There is no threat to the ongoing fourth Test against England. As all the other playing members have tested negative in two lateral flow tests. The flow tests conducted on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Fielding coach R Sridhar and head physiotherapist Nitin Patel have also been isolated.
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What BCCI secretary Jay Shah said :
“The BCCI Medical Team has isolated Mr Ravi Shastri, Head Coach, Mr B. Arun, Bowling Coach, Mr R. Sridhar, Fielding Coach and Mr Nitin Patel, Physiotherapist as a precautionary measure after Mr Shastri’s lateral flow test returned positive last evening,”
BCCI secretary Jay Shah stated in a release.
“They have undergone RT-PCR testing and shall remain in the team hotel and not travel with Team India until confirmation from the medical team,” he further added.
“You feel for Bharath Arun. This is the second time, that he has to be isolated because someone else had tested positive. Last time it was Dayanand Garani, the masseur, who came in contact with Arun and later tested positive,” he added. — PTI
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The team will travel to Manchester on Tuesday. Also if these four test positive in RT-PCR, they will have to undero 10-day room isolation followed by two negative RT-PCR results.
“The remaining members of the Team India contingent underwent two Lateral Flow Tests – one last night and another this morning. The members upon returning negative Covid reports were allows to proceed for Day 4 of the ongoing fourth Test at The Oval.” The lateral flow tests always doesn’t give accurate results as it is a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) and it is a form of self test with the kit being provided to each member of the side.
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The Indian contingent has been carrying out lateral flow tests every single day. It was since Rishabh Pant tested positive for Covid during the three-week break. It is understands that Shastri may have get the symptoms after attending his book launch event in the team hotel. Although, where outside guests were also allows.
