With the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) just around the corner, there has been a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in Mumbai. Two more ground staff members and a plumber at Wankhede stadium have tested positive for coronavirus.
A few days back, the facility was cleared to host its share of 10 IPL games with the first one scheduled between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Delhi Capitals (DC) on 10 April.
“Three at the stadium have tested positive, two are groundsmen," a Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) source told PTI.
Previously, 10 ground-staff members of the stadium had tested positive, but most of them have since recovered.
It was also decided that the ground staff and the other members of the facility will be housed in the club of the Wankhede stadium and not allowed to go home to avoid the risk of COVID-19 infection.
"There is a club house inside the Wankhede Stadium, all the ground staff will stay there till the Mumbai leg is over in order to conduct the IPL smoothly," the source added.
On Monday, the Maharashtra government cleared the decks for the event in Mumbai despite the weekend lockdown provisions and night curfew in the city.
The government has imposed stricter restrictions to lower the number of COVID-19 cases in the state which include weekend lockdowns and night curfews during weekdays past 8 PM.
The teams however were allowed to practice and travel from their respective hotels to the stadium during night curfews.
(With PTI inputs)
