Australian water polo Olympians test positive to COVID

A second member of the Australian women's water polo team has tested positive to COVID-19 ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Team chef de mission Anna Meares said on Tuesday morning that a player had mild symptoms after testing positive on Monday night.

A few hours later the Australian Olympic Committee said a second player also had tested positive.

"The player who has tested positive to COVID-19 last night has chosen not to train with her teammates this afternoon," the AOC statement said.

"All close contacts have been tested. A second player who was a close contact has also tested positive, but that player is well enough to train.

"The water polo team followed the AOC respiratory illness protocols correctly which allowed for early diagnosis and treatment. A reminder has been sent to all teams to reinforce the protocols."

The AOC added no other athletes in the Paris team had been diagnosed.

Two members of the team were supposed to attend the Australian team's regular morning media briefing on Tuesday, but they were withdrawn as a precaution.

"This is a high-performance environment, so we are being diligent, but I need to emphasise we are treating COVID no different to other bugs like the 'flu - this is not Tokyo," Meares said.

"We've been able to get a really good handle on what might be going about.

"What was very positive about this situation and this athlete was that they followed the protocols ... and at the first sign of symptoms they acted responsibly and presented themselves to the medical team to be tested."

The Australian team has its own medical testing equipment for illnesses such as COVID-19 and the 'flu.

The French government and the World Health Organisation (WHO) said there was only a moderate increase in COVID cases in the country.

"There is no big risk of a cluster," Health Minister Frederic Valletoux told broadcaster franceinfo.

"Of course COVID is here. We've seen a small peak (in cases), but we are far from what we saw in 2020, 2021, 2022."

He added that there was no obligation to wear a mask because the number of cases was still low.

"Some precautions are being taken but, because the level at which COVID is spreading is very low, they depend on the organisers."

Meares said "a couple" of unnamed officials on the Australian team have cold and 'flu symptoms and are being treated the same as the water polo players.

Australia's first women's water polo match is against China on Saturday evening.

- with Reuters

- with Reuters