BCCI Issues Guidelines To The Entire Indian Camp To Prevent Getting Coronavirus

Amid the pandemic of the coronavirus, India and South Africa are all set to take the field to begin the three-match ODI series on Thursday in Dharamshala. After the game in Dharamshala, the two teams will move on to Lucknow and Kolkata before the IPL starts from the 29th of March. The BCCI, especially, has been monitoring the outbreak closely and have laid a set of guidelines to prevent it.

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Both the men in blue and the Proteas have already resorted to precautionary measures. Handshakes and engagement with the fans are not going to be part of the series while pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has also hinted to limit the usage of saliva on the ball during the series. As of the 11th of March, the number of positive cases of COVID-19 have risen to over 60.

The apex body of Indian cricket said in a statement that their medical team has been tracking the situation of the virus. The entire camp have been issued a set of regulations given by the WHO as well as the Ministry of Health and Welfare – Government of India.

“The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) medical team has been monitoring the current coronavirus COVID-19 situation. All the players, team support staff, State Associations have been briefed about the standard guidelines issued by WHO as well as the Ministry of Health & Welfare – Government of India,”

Below are the guidelines issued to the entire Indian camp by BCCI:

1. washing hands with soap & water for a minimum of 20 seconds,
2. use of hand sanitizers,
3. covering mouth while sneezing or coughing
4. reporting to the medical team immediately in case of fever, cough or any illness,
5. avoid touching face, mouth, nose and eyes before thoroughly washing hands,
6. avoid eating out at restaurants where hygiene standards are unknown or compromised,
7. avoid close contact & interaction with individuals outside the team environment (to avoid cross-infection from unknown individuals). Includes avoiding handshake, handling unknown phones for selfies.

Several associations have already called for the cancellation or the postponement of these sporting events due to the deadly virus. However, the BCCI haven’t changed their stance on the same. There is a possibility of the match in Dharamshala could take place with an empty ground.

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