Catching Covid-19 will not necessarily exclude any Australian cricketers from competing at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham under the United Kingdom's relaxed isolation policies.
Instead, athletes will assessed on a case-by-case basis to discern their ability to lineup in events. That ability will be assessed by how severe their bout of Covid-19 is, how infectious they will be, and what sport they are competing in.
The Australian women's cricket team have successfully passed Covid-19 screening tests, but understand the threat remains present in terms of the disease's ability to impact player availability.
Catching COVID won't necessarily rub athletes out of their chosen events at this year's Commonwealth Games 🦠 #B2022https://t.co/af007BkzAf
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) July 27, 2022
"COVID unfortunately has been an ongoing challenge," Australia's team chef de mission Thomas told the Australian Associated Press on Wednesday.
"We're managing various cases as they pop up so our COVID team has done a mountain of work trying to make sure people can get to the Games and for our athletes to be able to get to the start line."
"At this stage we are certainly hoping that all of the athletes can get to their competition and perform at their best.
"But it's certainly a lot of management throughout the process and making sure that we are looking after the people affected and also making sure the infection control measures are in place around the rest of the team as well."
The team is taking precautions such as limiting movements outside the players' village and opting not to attend the opening ceremony (which is expected to welcome up to 200 Australian athletes), with Alyssa Healy saying the side will take a professional approach.
"We have taken quite a cautious approach, knowing that if one goes down there's potential that more in the team will go down," Healy told reporters on Wednesday.
"I think all the girls are super professional in how they handle that and how they respond to that.
"We hope it doesn't come into our group. But I think that's a pipe dream. I'm sure it will at some point.
"We're just making sure we're doing what we can to minimise that risk."
Organisers have split the Australian contingent across five locations in Birmingham, while they have also banned them from supporting their teammates. Players are permitted to purchase takeaway food and drink.
Although, state of affairs is certainly different to the Women's 50-over World Cup earlier this year in New Zealand, which forced Australian allrounder Ashleigh Gardner to miss two matches through isolation protocols.
The Aussies begin their campaign tomorrow night (8pm AEST) against India.
