Covid cases at elite surf gathering
Two Kiwis’ Olympic qualifying hopes may be under threat after the International Surfing Association announced that there have been several positive cases of Covid-19 at the ISA World Surfing Games in El Salvador.
On the eve of the nine-day event, the sport’s governing body yesterday confirmed there had been 18 positive cases recorded after the 564 competitors and event officials were tested between May 27 and 28.
Eleven of those 18 are athletes, while there are also an additional 10 cases currently pending further testing.
Paige Hareb and Saffi Vette are the two New Zealanders at the event, as they chase one of the two available places for women in the Kiwi team for Tokyo, where surfing is making its Olympic debut.
The ISA said the 18 positive cases were now required to quarantine in a hotel provided by the government,but would not be revealing further information about who had tested positive.
‘‘The ISA is taking this action and publishing this information because it prioritises the health and well-being of all athletes, officials and coaches at its events,’’ the governing body said in a statement.
‘‘No specific details regarding the teams or individuals who have tested positive will be published. The ISA will make further Covid-19 statements after additional rounds of testing are completed.’’
Ella Williams currently has a provisional place for Tokyo and opted not to compete at the World Surfing Games, while Billy Stairmand, who is likely to represent New Zealand in the men’s Olympic event, also chose to skip the El Salvador event.
Hareb and Vette, both Covid-19 vaccinated, chose to compete despite Surfing New Zealand withdrawing their support because of the risk around the pandemic.