Six members of the Pakistan men’s cricket team have tested positive for COVID-19 at their managed isolation facility at the Chateau on the Park in Christchurch.
Fifty-three members of the squad arrived in Christchurch on 24 November and were tested on day 1. These cases are the results of those tests. All team members returned a negative COVID-19 test and passed a symptom check before departing Lahore.
The Ministry of Health says all cases are being moved to quarantine rooms within the facility. Members of the team will be tested a minimum of four times while in managed isolation.
As a result of these positive tests, members of the team will not be able to leave the facility to train. Any training is conditional on a public health assessment, so at this time, no training will be able to take place.
Chateau on the Park Hotel in Christchurch is one of the isolation facilities. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
The Medical Officer of Health at Canterbury District Health Board has sent a letter to the squad’s management to be communicated to the whole team, reinforcing that all team members are required to stay in their rooms until advised otherwise.
"While this is disappointing for the Pakistan squad, the testing outcomes and the actions taken show the Government system is working.
"Prior to leaving Lahore, all members of the Pakistan touring squad returned negative results on the four occasions they were tested," a statement from New Zealand Cricket said.
NZC also mentioned that they have been made aware that some members of the Pakistan team had contravened protocols on the first day of managed isolation.
"We will be having discussions with the tourists to assist them in understanding the requirements," NZC said.
NZC said it considers public health and safety to be paramount in the hosting of international teams and is supportive of the Ministry of Health and Government position.
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