COVID: Eight more shuttlers test positive at ABM

KUALA LUMPUR: Eight national back-up shuttlers at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) here have tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday (April 20).

This comes in the wake of six national shuttlers also testing positive for the virus last week.

Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh said they have taken swift action to curb the spread of the virus based on recommendations from the Health Ministry and National Sports Institute.

He said all 14 shuttlers had been sent to quarantine centres while the rest, who have been categorised as close and casual contacts, are also in isolation.

"Around 91 players, coaches and support staff will take another round of swab tests tomorrow and we hope that there will be no more positive cases. Luckily, none of the elite players tested positive, for now.

"However, we will continue to monitor their symptoms and health. We will also ensure the standard operating procedure (SOP) is observed at all times," Kenny said when contacted, adding that the ABM had been sanitised several times over the last week as precaution.

Last week, BAM said that quarantine-based training would be re-introduced at the national badminton centre of excellence following the infection while school activities would be conducted online.

-- BERNAMA