Updated: Usain Bolt in quarantine, waiting for COVID-19 test results
Athletics
By
Odero Charles
| Aug 25, 2020
World-record sprinter and eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt on Monday revealed that he is waiting to hear back from the health ministry after taking a coronavirus test last weekend.
Nationwide90fm, a radio station in Jamaica, on Monday reported that the now-retired 100m and 200m world record holder had tested positive for the virus after a birthday party.
Bolt celebrated his 34th birthday last Friday in Jamaica, and the report added that the likes of Leon Bailey, Manchester City and England star Raheem Sterling, Chris Gayle, reggae singer Christopher Martin, Ding Dong, Desha Ravers, Munga Honourable, and more, all attended the secluded celebration.
Bolt posted a short video on his Instagram/Twitter account, addressing widespread speculation that he has tested positive for Covid-19 after birthday celebrations during which social distancing norms were reportedly not followed.
Instead of explicitly confirming it, Bolt said that he took a test on Saturday because he had to fly for work, but did not have any symptoms.
Stay Safe my ppl ???????? pic.twitter.com/ebwJFF5Ka9 — Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) August 24, 2020
"I am going to quarantine myself and wait on the confirmation to see what is the protocol," said the only sprinter to win the 100m and 200m golds at three consecutive Olympics (2008, 2012 and 2016).
"Just to be safe I quarantined myself and just taking it easy."
The Caribbean island nation of around 3 million now has had 1,529 confirmed cases, with 622 active cases, 16 deaths from coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the Sky sport has reported that Manchester City and England star Raheem Sterling will take a coronavirus test before he is allowed to meet up with England.
Sterling attended the birthday party with Usain Bolt, who is now self-isolating while awaiting results from a test for Covid-19.