Usain Bolt is in quarantine after taking a Covid-19 test just days after his 34th birthday party, which was reportedly attended by Raheem Sterling and several other sporting stars.
After reports surfaced in Jamaica, the world 100m and 200m record holder issued a statement in which he urged anyone who has come into contact with him to self-isolate.
“I’m just waking up, and like everybody else I checked social media which is saying I am confirmed to have Covid-19,” said Bolt. “I did a test on Saturday because of work. I am trying to be responsible so I am going to stay in and stay here for my friends. Also I’m having no symptoms so I am going to quarantine myself and wait on the confirmation to see what is the protocol and how I should go about quarantine myself.
He added: “Until then, ta-ta to my friends and I am saying anyone who has had contact with me should quarantine by themselves just to be safe and just to take it easy.”
Stay Safe my ppl pic.twitter.com/ebwJFF5Ka9
— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) August 24, 2020
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Bolt’s news means that Sterling, who was at the party along with Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey and cricketer Chris Gayle, is likely to have to be tested on his return to Britain. However he is still expected to be named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for England’s Nation League matches against Iceland and Denmark in early September.
While Bolt stopped short of saying he definitely contracted Covid-19, Nationwide News, which broke the story, said he had taken a Covid-19 test a few days ago and a positive had been returned.
Jamaica has had a confirmed total of 1,413 Covid-19 cases and 16 deaths on the island of around three million people.
But there are fears it could be on the rise, especially in the capital Kingston, with 410 new cases in the last 14 days.