Bahrain’s football players will be undergoing tests for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), as the countdown begins to resume the leagues.
The Youth and Sports Affairs Ministry announced that a random group of footballers will be subject to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.
The move is in line with the decisions of the Government Executive Committee, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier.
The preventive step is also in compliance with the mandatory precautionary measures to combat the pandemic.
National Taskforce for Combating Covid-19 gave professional players the green light to train indoors and outdoors and allowed the resumption of the leagues by mid-July in empty stadiums.
The ministry and the taskforce discussed the appropriate mechanism to take random samples from players. It was decided that each club board designates a co-ordinator to select random samples that cover all sports, in addition to coaches and administrative staff.
Lists will then be sent to the National Taskforce for Combating Covid-19 which will set appointments for the PCR tests.
The co-ordinators will liaise with the national clubs, the ministry and the Covid-19 task force to ensure precautionary guidelines are enforced for the safe resumption of training and championships.