Two media officials present at the Ashes Test tested positive for COVID-19 on the fourth day of the second game, resulting in a panic amongst other journalists.
Australian media reported the media members were presented at the Adelaide Oval. The report said that “a crew member returned a result as a part of scheduled testing for the virus” while citing the Stadium Management Authority.
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A subsequent round of testing determined that another individual was also infected with the disease, according to reports from PTI.
“We have been made aware of a second member of the visiting media who has returned a positive COVID result as a part of the scheduled day six testing”, the Stadium Management Authority said.
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The media crew member, who was tasked with working in the West stand of the Adelaide Oval, did not have any close contacts with anyone and had also not attended the ground today.
The ‘ABC Grandstand’ crew has been given permission to broadcast the ongoing Ashes game in a remote manner but will have to secure clearance from the SA health authorities and the stadium management to broadcast from the stadium.
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Andrew Moore, a member of the media team, said in a statement, “I had a test this morning as part of the travel arrangements and when we got back we got told to stay where we are … not to go to Adelaide Oval until we get clearance from SA Health and Adelaide Oval”, according to reports from PTI.
He added, “The radio and TV boxes all run in line alongside each other and then there’s the written press down one of the far ends of it. You do communicate with people when you walk out of the broadcast box, people are wearing masks inside the ground. They’re wearing masks in that area.”