When the Paris Olympics 2024 started, everyone was excited for the first proper Olympics since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it seems that the excitement was premature. So far, as many as 40 Olympic athletes have been found to have tested positive for the accursed disease that refuses to leave us. Noah Lyles, the American Track and Field Sprinter is among the athletes who tested positive for COVID-19. However, the Olympic Committee has nevertheless allowed athletes to compete if they’re able to.
At Least 40 Olympic Athletes Tested Positive For COVID-19
More than 40 athletes have tested positive for Covid at the Olympics in Paris. The disease is being treated as the common flu. I would get tested if I was Tebogo pic.twitter.com/RJWgl89hSW
— Logical VAR (@mwonga_patrick) August 9, 2024
According to an article which was recently published by mid-day, as many as 40 athletes competing in the Olympic games have tested positive for COVID-19. It is likely that there are more people who have contracted the disease as well.
Noah Lyles, after winning bronze in his competition, collapsed and had to be carted away. It was later announced that he had contracted COVID-19. Other athletes, too, have been found to have contracted the disease.
Given the large number of people attending this international competition, many have expressed concerns that it may become a super-spreader for COVID-19. However, so far, no mandates about masks or other restrictions have been issued.
Athletes Allowed To Compete In Games Nevertheless
So sad to see. After winning bronze🥇, Lyles revealed he had #Covid , felt lightheaded & had chest pain.
Could he have won silver or gold, if he’d been healthy? We must do better. And it’s Russian roulette wrt #longcovid , which has impacted ~400 M ppl.👇https://t.co/N0zNQt4ChC pic.twitter.com/CTJu0r3mgO
— Carolyn Barber, MD (@cbarbermd) August 9, 2024
The committee has also announced that athletes can compete despite having COVID-19 if they’re able to. This has sparked conversation around a number of topics ranging from health concerns to fairness.
Many people took to X (formerly known as Twitter) and wondered whether it was unfair to expect a person who is unwell to compete with a healthy person. Similar concerns were raised as many thought that had Lyles been free of COVID-19 he would have been able to beat others.
The lack of precautions by authorities is alarming, to say the least.
What do you think of this latest development? Do you think it’s fair to continue with the games as is? What measures do you think should be implemented in addition to the space and mask rule? Let us know in the comments section below!
Cover Image Credits: @iocmedia and @cbarbermd/X (Formerly, Twitter)
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