Kane Richardson tested positive for COVID-19, Cricket Australia bans entry of spectators to stadium

Amid the worldwide panic over the novel coronavirus, Australian fast bowler Kane Richardson has been tested positive for Covid 19. He has been kept under medical observation in an isolation ward.

A three-match one-day international series between Australia and New Zealand is being played but there will be no spectators in the ground due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

The 29-year-old cricket player showed coronavirus symptoms and was also tested positive for the deadly virus. He was ousted from the team ahead of Friday’s ODI against New Zealand. It has been learnt that he returned home from South Africa with a sore throat. He was replaced by Sean Abbott.

“Our medical staff are treating this a typical throat infection but we are following Australian Government protocols that require us to keep Kane away from other members of the squad and perform the appropriate tests given he has returned from international travel in the last 14 days,” a Cricket Australia spokesperson said.

“Once we receive the results of the tests and Kane recovers in the next few days we expect he will re-join the team. We will not be making further comment until something changes.”

The public will not be allowed to enter the stadium during the match between Australia and New Zealand due to the coronavirus outbreak. Players will keep a distance from the media in any interview.

By far, the novel coronavirus outbreak has spread more than 100 countries across the world ever since it was detected. The deadly coronavirus has killed more than 5,000 lives and over 130,000 have been infected with it – majority of them in China.

In another shocking news, The 76-year-old man, from the southern state of Karnataka, died of Coronavirus. It is said that the deceased had returned from Saudi Arabia on 29 February after a month-long visit. This is India’s first coronavirus death in Karnataka. Till now, 75 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in India.

Officials said the man showed no symptoms during the screening at the airport when he arrived from Saudi Arabia. On 5 March, he got mild breathing problems and was subsequently taken to a hospital. India, however, has taken several steps to stop the spread of Coronavirus.

Writer, historian, and activist Dharam Sikarwar is a very active author The Youth. He writes on national and international issues, environment, politics. He is an avid book reader as well.