Coronavirus: Kitchee group of 70 tests negative after coach and his wife become infected
- Kitchee training centre in Shek Mun reopens for limited services next week after deep cleansing and disinfection
- Head karate coach at Sports Institute also confirmed to be infected after returning from United Kingdom
A group of players and staff at Premier League club Kitchee has tested negative after one of their coaches and his wife were confirmed infected with the coronavirus this week.
A statement from the club on Thursday night said all 70 cases comprising first team players and staff members from the Jockey Club Kitchee Centre in Shek Mun were negative.
As a precautionary measure advised by Kitchee’s medical team, most of the first team players and training centre staff will continue to stay in quarantine for 14 days from their last contact with the infected person, believed to be first team coach Roberto Losada, the 2011 Hong Kong Footballer of the Year. The Spanish striker ended his playing career in Hong Kong in 2012 and immediately became one of the club’s coaches.
Kitchee faces second Covid-19 case with preliminary positive
Losada’s wife was first confirmed with Covid-19 on Sunday after returning to Hong Kong from an overseas trip in mid-March. One day later, Losada became another confirmed case and Kitchee immediately sent all players and other staff members for testing.
With the group all cleared of the virus, the Shek Mun centre will reopen on Monday with limited services after some deep cleansing and disinfection, according to the statement.
The Hong Kong sports community has not escaped the coronavirus, with a number of karate kumite exponents and their coaches falling victim after returning from training and competitions in Europe.
On March 18, Lee Chun-ho was the first athlete confirmed with the virus and two days later, teammate Tsang Yee-ting became the second case. The third member of the group, Chau Ka-him, soon followed and their coach Frenchman Rida Bel-Lahsen also became infected.
Karate coach is fourth victim of coronavirus after team’s return from Europe
On Wednesday, head coach William Thomas, who was not part of the group, also tested Covid-19 positive after returning from the United Kingdom.
The Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) has tested 200 athletes and staff members returning from overseas since March 5.
Top athletes including Sarah Lee Wai-sze, Angus Ng Ka-long, Cheung Ka-long, Ryan Choi Chun-yin have all tested negative. The Sports Institute’s training complex in Fo Tan was also locked down for two weeks until Wednesday.
