The dreaded Covid-19 has struck once again and this time it has hit the Delhi Capitals (DC) camp as team's physio Patrick Farhart has contracted coronavirus, however, he is being closely monitored by the medical team of the Delhi-based franchise.
On Friday, the IPL issued a press release to confirm the first positive Covid-19 case of IPL 2022.
This is the first case of a player of a support staff contracting the virus inside the bio-bubble this year. It is not yet clear whether Farhart is showing any symptoms, but it has been told that the medical team of the franchise is having a close look at him.
Dhananjay Kaushik, the assistant physio of Delhi Capitals, is expected to take over the duties now until Patrick Farhart recovers. According to the protocols, the latter will now have to be in isolation for seven days away from the rest of the team. He will be tested on 6th and 7th day during this period. To re-enter the bio-bubble, Farhart will have to provide two negative RT-PCR tests taken 24 hours apart. He should also show no fresh symptoms for next 24 hours and there shouldn’t be any use of medication for 24 hours as well.
Two years back, the IPL had to be postponed due to the first wave of the pandemic. The season was played later in the year in the UAE. In 2021, the IPL season had to be stopped mid-way after several players tested positive in the Ahmedabad and Delhi bio-bubbles. The tournament was completed later that year again in the UAE.
With cases declining before the start of IPL 2022, the organisers decided to allow 25 per cent capacity of crowds in the stadiums. The teams are still in strict bio-bubbles.
