COVID positive Indian hockey player Mandeep Singh moved to hospital
The 25-year-old Mandeep has been shifted to a hospital as a precautionary measure after his oxygen levels dropped below normal.
Indian hockey team forward Mandeep Singh, who had tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, was moved to a nearby hospital after his oxygen levels dropped below normal late night.
The 25-year-old Mandeep was the sixth member of the Indian hockey men’s team to test positive for the novel coronavirus following their return to national camp at the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre for Excellence in Bengaluru.
“During night monitoring of vitals on August 10 it was found that Mandeep Singh's blood oxygen level was dropping below normal which indicated that he is moving from mild to moderate severity of COVID-19,” a media statement read.
While the five players, including captain Manpreet Singh, continue to be monitored closely inside the SAI campus, Mandeep Singh had to be moved to SS Sparsh multispeciality hospital as a precautionary measure.
The SAI said the Jalandhar player continues to be stable.
The authorities at the SAI campus have been extremely cautious and are keeping a close eye on the players with constant checks throughout the day.
“All six athletes who tested COVID-19 positive are being monitored constantly and their vitals were being checked four times every day -- in the morning, afternoon, evening and in the night before sleep,” the media statement said.
While the cause of the virus infection is still uncertain, the SAI believes that the players could have contracted the virus while travelling back to the SAI centre.
The team had returned to their base last week following a month-long break.
Upon arrival, the players were administered a rapid test for COVID-19 as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) laid down by SAI.
Though the initial report came back negative, Manpreet Singh and Surender Kumar showed COVID-19 symptoms and tested positive when a second round was conducted.
The Karnataka state government has deputed a medical officer to the SAI campus while the SAI also had experts from Manipal hospital, a private facility in the city, diagnose the players a few days back.