Swim fraternity concerned over COVID-19 spike
Published:Tuesday | February 9, 2021 | 12:22 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
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Despite the Government authorising the return of sporting events on a case-by-case basis, national swim coach Lynval Lowe says that the recent surge in COVID-19 cases has brought fresh concerns that any potential plans for competitive swimming...
Despite the Government authorising the return of sporting events on a case-by-case basis, national swim coach Lynval Lowe says that the recent surge in COVID-19 cases has brought fresh concerns that any potential plans for competitive swimming could be hampered.
Sports Minister Olivia Grange announced the return of competitive events on Friday, thanks to a provision in the Disaster Risk Management Order. The events are subject to approval from the director of sports at the Ministry of Sport, as well as the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, who will have final authorisation.
Jamaica has reported consecutive days of triple-digit increases with 213 cases announced yesterday for Sunday. In total, 1,048 cases have been recorded between Thursday and Sunday, which has increased Lowe’s concern for delays to any competition plans.
“Barbados were supposed to have Carifta [Games] this year and they had to postpone because [the cases] went up,” Lowe said. “It concerns me because the fact is that [there are] three-digit [increases]. And then [when you are trying to] have meets, it is a concern when you look at it and say when it will end? When will we get back into the pool [competitively] and continue to help these children achieve what they want to achieve?”
No events have been held since last March because of the pandemic, although training for national and club swimmers resumed at the National Aquatic Centre (NAC) in July. In addition to the Carifta Games postponement, the staging of the Central American and Caribbean Swimming Federation Games is under threat as Panama relinquished their hosting duties. Lowe says they are monitoring the local situation given the recent surge is greater than what transpired late last year when they were exploring options for a development meet.
“We tried to put one together and it never worked, and the [daily] numbers were way lower [than now],” Lowe said. “We are wondering since we have the triple figures now and since there was so less then, we have to wait and see and [if] this is going to be possible.”
EXERCISING CAUTION
Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica President Martin Lyn said that they are prepared to introduce stricter measures for events, but emphasised that are exercising caution in restarting their domestic season, given the recent surge.
“If we have to introduce more stringent protocols, we are prepared to do so,” Lyn said. “[But] we are not going to restart [events] just for the sake of restarting. We already have the pool open [for training] so we are doing what we need to do every day without incident so far. In the event that we think that this is a worst-case scenario, we are not going to go ahead and do things to jeopardise our athletes.”
Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said that the situation would be reassessed and any further decisions on reopening the industry and further protocols would be made by the Cabinet.
However, Lyn said they have been encouraged by the Ministry of Sport to proceed with their event requests and should the reopening of the sector continue as scheduled, they are in the best position to restart because of protocols placed at the NAC.