Portugal confirmed, this Monday morning (29), its first cases of the omicron variant of the new coronavirus. There were 13 cases at once: all in players and in the technical team of a first division football league team, Belenenses SAD.
The information was confirmed by the DGS (General Directorate of Health). Authorities ordered the prophylactic isolation of those infected.
Portuguese health authorities said they will intensify case monitoring and contact tracing.
First identified by scientists in South Africa, the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has more mutations than previously known strains of the virus. Last week, it was considered as a variant of interest by the WHO (World Health Organization).
A report from the sports newspaper A Bola mentions that one of the Belenenses SAD players had recently returned from South Africa.
Due to the new variant, and even before the confirmation of cases in the country, Portugal had already canceled all flights with origin or destination in Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony that neighbors South Africa, in addition to decreeing a quarantine for passengers with origin in several countries in the south of the African continent.
CONTROVERSY
The revelation of omicron cases in athletes happens after a game full of controversies last Saturday (27).
Even before the match, a routine monitoring carried out by Belenenses SAD identified the presence of positive cases in the squad and in the technical team. Still, the game against Benfica was maintained.
Under current rules, Covid-19 is equated with an injury. Therefore, if there are at least eight players able to play, matches must take place.
Belenenses SAD presented for the match with only nine players, the majority from the under-23 team.
Also with Covid-19, the coach was another embezzlement in the clash.
The first half ended with Benfica thrashing by 7-0. The game was stopped there and there was no continuation after the break.
Speaking to the press after the match, both clubs blamed the organization of the Portuguese championship for carrying out the game.
“I essentially wanted to regret what happened today. (…) We were not at all pleased to take the field under these conditions. Benfica was, like Belenenses SAD, forced to take the field. The two responsible entities didn’t postpone the game, Benfica wouldn’t do it either”, said the president of Benfica, Rui Costa.
Speaking to Lusa agency, the Portuguese Professional Football League (LPFP) stated that “there was no formal request”. There is an emergency meeting scheduled to discuss the matter.
The general director of Health, Graça Freitas, said, in an interview to TSF radio, that Benfica players who participated in the game should also be tested, since it is a new variant and there are additional precautionary measures.
