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Both staff and players have tested positive and will quarantine
in a hotel in Cape Town, joining the first player https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-safrica-rugby-union-idINL1N2SJ09C
who returned a positive test on Sunday. Welsh side Cardiff also
said they had two positive cases over the weekend.
Munster did not say if any of the positive tests were for the
new Omicron variant of the virus, which was first detected in
southern Africa.
Ireland is one of the world's most vaccinated nations, with
almost 91%
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/
ireland-extends-covid-19-booster-shots-all-adults-2021-11-26 of
the country's eligible 3.9 million people over the age of 12
fully vaccinated.
"This is a difficult time for all players and staff involved and
we are very mindful of their wellbeing and the understandable
concern from family and friends at home," Munster said in a
statement
https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2021/11/ 30/munster-travel-update/#post.
"The wider Munster touring party departed Cape Town tonight
after a group of 34 players and staff received negative results
on completing a fourth round of PCR testing in six days."
Meanwhile, Cardiff said they plan to depart Cape Town on
Thursday morning after the club secured a charter flight and
quarantine accommodation in England.
The team's travelling contingent, which includes 15 Welsh
internationals, was left stranded in the city after South Africa
was placed on the United Kingdom's red list.
"Upon arrival in England, Wales' capital city club will then
begin a 10-day period of isolation in a UK Government COVID-19
hotel," Cardiff said in a statement
https://www.cardiffrugby.wales/news/
statement-cardiff-rugby-prepare-for-cape-town-departure.
Munster are due to play Wasps (Dec. 12) and Castres (Dec. 18) in
the group stage of the European Rugby Champions Cup, meaning the
returning squad members should be available for both games after
completing their quarantine.
Cardiff kick off their European campaign against Cardiff on
December 11.
Direct flights from South Africa to Britain were halted last
week and travellers from southern Africa arriving in Britain and
European Countries face quarantine restrictions as part of steps
to avoid the spread of the Omicron variant of the virus.
(Reporting by Manasi Pathak and Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru;
Editing by Rohith Nair and Toby Davis)
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