COVID-19

Minato oyakata positive for COVID-19

Herouth COVID-19

According to this statement from the NSK, Minato oyakata (Ichinojo’s shisho) felt unwell on December 14th, and took a PCR test, which confirmed that he has contracted COVID-19.

According to his contact tracing, he has not been in the practice grounds with his rikishi for the previous 3 days, and therefore they are not considered “close contacts” and not eligible for official testing. However, the NSK had them all tested privately as an extra measure, and the results will be known later today. We will keep you updated.

Minato himself will be admitted to a medical facility or a hotel according to the local health authority’s instructions.

Minato oyakata is 52 years old. We wish him full and speedy recovery, and we will keep you updated on the results of the heya members’ tests if in when those are made public.

COVID-19 outbreak in Tatsunami beya

Herouth Akua, COVID-19

Yesterday I reported about three new cases of COVID-19 in an undisclosed heya.

Today, results came in of the tests of 17 heya contacts of those three. And 7 of them tested positive. So the number of infected rikishi has increased to 10, including Akua. So now we know the cluster outbreak is at Tatsunami beya.

Of the three rikishi who tested positive yesterday, one is hospitalized, and the other two are isolating at a designated hotel. The additional 7 have mild or no symptoms, and will also be isolating at hotels.

We will keep updating as news come in, and again we wish everybody a speedy recovery.

Three new cases of COVID-19 in Grand Sumo

Herouth COVID-19

The NSK announced today that three new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed. The three rikishi are ranked below sekitori, and therefore their names and the heya to which they belong have not been disclosed.

The three complained yesterday of fever and cough, and have therefore been given a test, which came back positive. They have been hospitalized as required by local protocol, and their close contacts are being tested. In addition, the NSK will give PCR tests to heya relations who don’t fall under the official “direct contact” definition.

We wish all involved a speedy recovery and no lasting complications.

Positive COVID-19 Tests At a Heya – A Threat To Aki?

Bruce H Aki Basho 2020, COVID-19

This thread emerged a few days ago on Twitter thanks to Tachiai’s own Herouth. A rikishi, ranked Makushita or below, tested positive for COVID-19 in the pre-basho work up. On Saturday the 5th, this rikishi, from an unnamed large stable, reported feeling unwell. He was sent to a local infirmary for an antigen test, which returned positive.

https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202009060000387.html

On the back of that, the entire heya was tested, and now we know the results of that sweep. NSK spokesman Shibatayama has only reported “several more” confirmed cases of COVID in the same heya, but it appears that not all of the PCR tests have been resolved by the lab at the time of this report. It is expected that more details will be published when the scope and severity of the situation is better understood. Shibatayama remarked that “some of the cases are symptomatic, some are not. None of the rikishi are showing severe symptoms”.

As of now, we are 4 days before of the Aki Basho, and it’s unknown how the Sumo Association will handle this outbreak. Options range from canceling the basho, to moving ahead with that entire heya being kyujo, or the quite unlikely proceeding as planned with only rikishi who test positive declared kyujo. Should the heya turn out to be something like Kokonoe, Sadogatake or even Isegahama, it would throw chaos into scheduling and matches across most divisions.

We will continue to follow this story, and thanks again to Herouth.