No Home Quarantine: Here Are SOPs For Foreign Teams Taking Part In Bhubaneswar Junior World Cup Hockey

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The Central government has granted exemption from home quarantine for players and support staff of all international teams which will take part in the FIH Junior Men’s World Cup Hockey meet.

The tournament will be held at Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium from November 24 to December 5 after the Odisha government agreed to host it at just a two months’ notice. The meet was originally scheduled to be held in Guwahati.

Also Read: Deja Vu Moment: Odisha To Host Men’s Junior World Cup In 2 Months’ Time

Besides hosts India, the participating countries are — Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Africa, Egypt, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, USA, Canada, Chile and Argentina.

Responding to the request of Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has written that all participants from the above-mentioned 15 foreign countries are exempted from mandatory home quarantine requirements, provided following SOPs are followed:

* It shall be ensured that pre-arrival RT-PCR COVID-19 test for all participants is conducted within 72 hours of departure. Participants arriving from Europe and Middle East would be tested on arrival in India. They shall give their samples and exit the airport.

* All participants will self-monitor their health for 14 days after arrival in India and if they develop any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, they will isolate themselves and report the same to the event organizers/nearest COVID heath facility/National or State helpline.

* All participants should minimize public interaction and follow COVID-appropriate behaviour (wear mask, maintain physical distancing, maintain respiratory and hand hygiene) throughout their visit.

* Department of Sports will monitor the participants and in case any participants develops any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 during their stay in India would be tested by RT-PCR and if found positive, the participant would be isolated and managed, and the contacts quarantined.