IPL 2020: What happens if a player is tested coronavirus positive
The much-awaited T20 extravaganza – IPL 2020 is all set to get underway on September 19. Players and franchises have already landed in the gulf country and have started their preparations after serving the quarantine period.
The news of 13 CSK camp members testing COVID-19 positive might’ve jolted the organizers but the BCCI is optimistic about staging the T20 extravaganza while eliminating all the hurdles. The thirteenth edition of the IPL will also mark the return of Indian cricket that halted since March 2020.
With a surge in COVID-19 cases across the country, the Indian board identified the UAE as a viable option amid the pandemic. The BCCI is aiming to leave no stones unturned to ensure that the league gets underway and fans get served with a dose of high-octane T20 cricket. The BCCI has also issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), containing guidelines related to social distancing, travelling directives, testing protocols, match-day guidelines, and other regulations.
Sanitisation in progress ✅
We take time to clean every surface before and after all training sessions to keep the teams safe.@AbuDhabiSC @KKRiders @mipaltan #biosecure #CommitToWin #iplt20 #ipl2020 #AbuDhabiCricket pic.twitter.com/g2TwptsrNw
— Abu Dhabi Cricket (@AbuDhabiCricket) August 30, 2020
Considering the COVID-19 situation across the globe, the franchises will have no choice but to abide by the regulations during their UAE stay. The teams will also reside in a biosecure bubble during the course of the tournament. The BCCI has been proactively making all the necessary rules but there’ll always remain a slim possibility of a player testing COVID-19 positive during the tournament.
The guideline
To avoid the cancellation of the tournament if a particular player tests positive, a guideline has been issued, ensuring that a few rooms to isolate an infected person. To take care of the safety of other members, contact-tracing will be initiated as soon as a case gets detected.
The IPL Medical manager, upon receiving any information from the team doctor, will immediately take charge and the infected person will be treated in coordination with hospitals and treatment centres that are equipped with COVID-19 testing. If the infected player is asymptomatic, he will undergo a two-week isolation period along with the rest.
Once the isolation period ends, the individual will be again tested twice in a span of 24 hours. The recovered person must test negative twice to be allowed to enter the biosecurity bubble again. Every player must undergo a cardiac screening before resuming training. And, if the player is symptomatic, or with mild symptoms, he would be hospitalised.
Barring Chennai Super Kings who’ve been shaken with their members testing COVID-19 positive, IPL franchises have started training outdoors and international players have also started joining their respective sides. The ‘bio-secure bubble’ comprises the teams’ hotel, stadiums, practice arena and transport. No one is allowed to go anywhere else during the IPL, with the final being locked on November 10th. Amid the pandemic, the IPL 2020 will certainly serve as a breath of fresh air for Indian fans who’re devoid of any cricketing action since March.
