Amid Coronavirus Scare, Cricketers To Fly In Chartered Flights During Upcoming India - South Africa Series

Cricket South Africa has confirmed that they are regularly liaising with the BCCI, the South African embassy in India and Indian security and risk experts.

The South African Department of Health is constantly in touch with the cricketers to ensure their safety. (Image: Twitter/ OfficialCSA)

New Delhi: Cricket South Africa (CSA) has stated that they are fully conscious of the risks presented in regard to the rapid outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and has engaged in a formal risk assessment process to ensure health, safety and duty of care to protect the cricketers and support staffs. This risk assessment has been initiated by the information provided by international experts and the World Health Organisation (WHO). The South African Department of Health is constantly in touch with the cricketers to ensure their safety. A source in the Cricket South Africa has confirmed that they are regularly liaising with the BCCI, the South African embassy in India and Indian security and risk experts. The government of India has also provided the necessary assurances, confirmed the source.  The Proteas will be traveling to India via Dubai and spend a day in Delhi. They will reach the capital city on Monday and then proceed to play in Dharamshala, Lucknow and Kolkata. None of the playing venues have recorded positive cases as off yet and travel between these cities will be via chartered flights in order to reduce the risk even further. The risks in Dubai and Delhi are considered low so far. While the risk of Covid-19 remains low, precautionary measures are necessary because of the highly infectious nature of the disease. The team has been appraised of hygiene precautions, avoidance measures and symptom recognition in addition to being provided with travel kits. CSA Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shuaib Manjra will be traveling with the team as Team Doctor and will keep abreast of developments in India and worldwide. He will also advise Cricket South Africa and the team management accordingly.