Eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt is confirmed to have tested positive for coronavirus a week after he celebrated his 34th birthday, the Jamaica health ministry said. The world-record sprinter is asymptomatic and isolating at his home in Jamaica.
The sprinter, who holds world records in the 100m and 200m categories, had taken to social media a day before to say that he was waiting for his test results to come back.
“I’m trying to be responsible so I’m going to stay in, and stay away from my friends. And also, I am having no symptoms, so I am going to quarantine myself. And will wait and see what is the protocol and how should I go about quarantining myself, from the ministry of health.”
“Just to be safe I quarantined myself and just taking it easy,” Bolt had said in the video, with the caption “Stay safe my ppl”.
Stay Safe my ppl 🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/ebwJFF5Ka9
— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) August 24, 2020
Bolt said he took the test on Saturday, a day after he celebrated his birthday with a big bash, with guests not adhering to the mask-rule nor following social distancing norms. They were seen dancing to the hit sing ‘Lockdown’ by reggae singer Koffee.
“Best birthday ever,” Bolt wrote on Instagram after posting a photo of himself with his daughter who was born in May this year.
According to reports, Jamaica has 1,612 confirmed COVID-19 cases and reported 16 deaths due to the virus.
Bolt, the only sprinter to win gold for the 100m and 200m distance at three consecutive Olympics, retired from athletics in 2017.
(With inputs from agencies)
