Twelve people from the Venezuelan national football team, including players and staff, have tested positive for Covid-19, officials said on Saturday, a day before they play the opening match of the Copa America against hosts Brazil.
In the latest in a cascade of bad news for the troubled South American championships, the health department in Brasilia, which is slated to host Sunday’s kickoff match, said it had been informed of the positive test results by tournament organizers on Friday night, shortly after the Venezuelan team arrived.
“The health department was notified by CONMEBOL that 12 members of the Venezuelan national team’s delegation, including players and coaching staff, tested positive for Covid-19,” it said in a statement.
“All are asymptomatic and isolated in individual hotel rooms. They are being monitored by CONMEBOL’s team and health department officials.”
The department did not say how many players had tested positive.
CONMEBOL said on Friday it would allow teams unlimited substitutions for players who are ruled out because of positive Covid-19 results or contact with positive teammates, meaning the cases were unlikely to force the cancellation of any matches.