Search

Brazil says 31 Copa America players, officials test positive for COVID-19

Football, Sport | | | By Reuters Reuters

Listen to this article:

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – 2019 Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana Draw – CONMEBOL Headquarters, Luque, Paraguay – December 17, 2018 General view of the Copa Libertadores trophy REUTERS/Jorge Adorno

Brazil’s Ministry of Health said on Monday that 31 players and Copa America delegation members had tested positive for COVID-19 by Sunday, the first day of the 10-nation South American soccer tournament.

Another 10 cases were confirmed among employees working at hotels where the players and their delegations are staying in Brasilia, Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga told reporters.

Confirmation of more cases of infection came as the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) defended itself against accusations that the tournament, which was awarded to Brazil with less than two weeks notice, was cobbled together at the last minute.

Brazil was picked after Colombia was withdrawn due to a wave of civil unrest and co-hosts Argentina pulled out because of a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Array
(
    [post_type] => post
    [post_status] => publish
    [orderby] => date
    [order] => DESC
    [update_post_term_cache] => 
    [update_post_meta_cache] => 
    [cache_results] => 
    [category__in] => 1
    [posts_per_page] => 4
    [offset] => 0
    [no_found_rows] => 1
    [date_query] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [after] => Array
                        (
                            [year] => 2024
                            [month] => 01
                            [day] => 26
                        )

                    [inclusive] => 1
                )

        )

)

UK News