Vaccinated athletes have had to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics after becoming infected with the virus.
QUICK FACTS:
- Forbes reports 137 Covid-19 infections recorded “among people affiliated with the Olympics as of Sunday.”
- Some of the infected were fully vaccinated.
- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says 80% of Olympic athletes are fully vaccinated, according to The Associated Press.
VACCINATED ATHLETES WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID:
- Olympic golfer Jon Rahm tested positive for COVID despite being vaccinated and has withdrawn from the Tokyo Olympics.
- U.S. men’s beach volleyball player Taylor Crabb tested positive for Covid-19 in Japan, despite having been vaccinated.
- U.S. women’s gymnastics alternate Kara Eaker also tested positive for Covid-19 and has left the Tokyo Olympics despite being fully vaccinated.
- U.S. women’s basketball player Katie Lou Samuelson tested positive for Covid-19 despite saying she was fully vaccinated and “took every precaution.”
- Coach Neil Powell of South Africa tested positive for the virus, although he had been vaccinated against Covid-19 with the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine in South Africa on May 24, team spokesman JJ Harmse told AP.
- Finn Florijn, a 21-year-old vaccinated Dutch rower, tested positive after his Olympic debut in the men’s single sculls race, according to NPR.
BACKGROUND:
- USA Today reported there would be “high vaccination rates among athletes” at the Tokyo Olympics. “[A]t least 70% of the largest groups of participants is estimated to be fully vaccinated.”
- However, The Wall Street Journal reports “organizers say over 80% of athletes are fully vaccinated.” The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says the same number, according to AP.
- In May, CNN reported nine vaccinated New York Yankees ballplayers tested positive for Covid-19.
