Multiple athletes have tested positive for COVID at the Paris Games, but these are being considered the first post-pandemic Olympics – meaning there are no set rules or restrictions around COVID.
The reports that the U.S. swim team – which includes two swimmers who have tested positive for the virus – doesn’t have any mandatory masking or testing in place, though more masks were spotted poolside on staff and athletes.
“We encourage our athletes to do whatever makes them most comfortable, working with the team doctors,” a U.S. swim team spokesperson said.
And the Australian team is “treating COVID no differently to other bugs like the flu,” according to Anna Meares, the chef de mission for the Australian Olympic team, who added that the water polo players who tested positive for COVID will wear masks, isolate from team members outside of training and avoid high-volume areas.
NBC News medical contributor Dr. Kavita Patel told Today the Paris Olympics don’t qualify as a COVID outbreak at the moment; based on existing guidelines, 5 per cent of athletes would need to test positive within a seven-day period to qualify as an outbreak.
“I’ve been visiting the medical tent regularly. It’s a weird feeling when you’re in the medical tent way more than any of the athletes,” Jost told NBC Olympics Late Night host Maria Taylor. “(The medical staff) started saying, “We need to see you every day,’ which at first I was like, ‘Oh my God, guys, I like you too.’ And they were like, ‘No, it’s because the infection hasn’t improved.”
Divers Alert Network (DAN) said that “cuts and scrapes from sharp-edged coral and barnacles tend to fester and may take weeks or even months to heal.” DAN also noted that coral are “covered by living marine organisms” – making the injuries from them uniquely challenging to treat.
In a joke later in the NBC interview, Jost elaborated more on his infection, saying, “Why did the chicken cross the road? To peck at the staph infection in my foot.”
Staph infections are caused by bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus, and can become deadly if the bacteria enters the bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs or heart, the Mayo Clinic says. Treatment involves antibiotics and thoroughly cleaning and covering the infected area to prevent it from spreading.
