A COVID-19 outbreak has hit the 2024 Paris Olympics, with at least 40 athletes, including U.S. track star Noah Lyles, testing positive for the virus. Maria Van Kerkhove from the World Health Organization noted that many countries, including the international athlete community at the Games, are experiencing a COVID surge. Despite the positive tests, athletes like Lyles are still competing.
Unlike the 2020 Tokyo and 2022 Beijing Olympics, which enforced stricter COVID-19 measures, this year’s Games have largely returned to pre-pandemic norms. All previous COVID protocols were lifted before the 2024 Paris Games, with a shift towards treating the virus more like a common illness such as a cold or flu, according to Scientific American.
Athletes and teams are now responsible for their own virus prevention and response strategies. Lyles, who tested positive but chose to compete in the 200-meter semifinals, received criticism for his decision. Nevertheless, many athletes appear to accept COVID as a manageable part of life, as reported by The Washington Post.
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