COVID-19 countermeasures of Chinese national athletes: Prevention, treatment, and return to play

Abstract

Under the condition of normalized epidemic, how athletes train and compete well has been in the spotlight. This article reported the symptom, hospitalization and training situation of seven confirmed cases of coronavirus-disease-2019 (COVID-19) among Chinese national teams. Moreover, the paper summarized the experience of Chinese national teams in terms of epidemic prevention and control, treatment of infection, and safe return to play. Through a scientific combination of medication and non-medical treatment, seven athletes were all discharged from the hospital. These discharged athletes underwent strict isolation and scientific training before returning to sports teams. Before returning to play, continuous monitoring of physical and mental condition was required. All seven athletes returned to play safely and performed excellently. As for hosting large-scale sporting events, the entire enclosed-loop management from immigration to competition was proposed in this paper. This study could serve as a standard of epidemic prevention and control, treatment for infection and safe return to play during competition and training around the world.

Keywords

COVID-19 / Athlete / Epidemic prevention and control / Treatment / Return to play

References

[[1]] W. Wang, J. Tang, F. Wei.Updated understanding of the outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, China. J ​Med Virol, 92 (4) (Apr 2020), pp.441-447, DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25689

[[2]] J.H. Hull, M. Loosemore, M. Schwellnus. Respiratory health in athletes: facing the COVID-19 challenge. Lancet Respir Med, 8 (6) ( 2020), pp. 557-558, DOI: 10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30175-2

[[3]] M. van Doremalen, T. Bushmaker, D.H. Morris, et al.. Aerosol and surface stability of SARS-CoV-2 as compared with SARS-CoV-1. N ​Engl J Med, 382 (16) ( 2020), pp. 1564-1567, DOI: 10.1056/NEJMc2004973

[[4]] Z. Wu, J.M. McGoogan. Characteristics of and important lessons from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China summary of a report of 72 314 cases from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. JAMA, 323 (13) ( 2020), pp. 1239-1242, DOI: 10.1001/jama.2020.2648

[[5]] C. Huang, Y. Wang, X. Li, et al.. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Lancet, 395 (10223) (Feb 15 2020), pp.497-506, DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30183-5

[[6]] N.T. Hutchinson, A. Steelman, J.A. Woods. Behavioral strategies to prevent and mitigate COVID-19 infection. Sports Med Health Sci, 2 (3) ( 2020), pp. 115-125, DOI: 10.1016/j.smhs.2020.09.001

[[7]] R.C. Becker. Covid-19 treatment update: follow the scientific evidence. J ​Thromb Thrombolysis, 50 (1) ( 2020), pp. 43-53, DOI: 10.1007/s11239-020-02120-9

[[8]] J.L. Ren, A.H. Zhang, X.J. Wang.Traditional Chinese medicine for COVID-19 treatment. Pharmacol Res, 155 ( 2020), Article 104743, DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104743

[[9]] X. Xu, Y.K. Ong, Y. Wang.Role of adjunctive treatment strategies in COVID-19 and a review of international and national clinical guidelines. Mil Med Res, 7 (1) ( 2020), p. 22, DOI: 10.1186/s40779-020-00251-x

[[10]] HP.Shi, Z. Yu, KY. Yu. Expert suggestions on nutrition therapy for severe COVID-19 patients [in Chinese]. SCIENTIA SINICA Vitae, 50 (8) ( 2020), pp. 874-886, DOI: 10.1360/SSV-2020-0055

[[11]] General Office of National Health Commission.Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Novel Coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV) Infection (Trial Version 1). The State Council The People’s Republic of China. February 2nd 2020. (February 2nd 2020).

[[12]] General Office of National Health Commission.Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Novel Coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV) Infection (Trial Version 2). National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (April 13th 2020).

[[13]] General Office of National Health Commission.uidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Novel Coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV) Infection (Trial Version 3). The State Council The People’s Republic of China (January 22nd 2020).

[[14]] General Office of National Health Commission.Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Novel Coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV) Infection (Trial Version 4). National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (February 6th 2020).

[[15]] General Office of National Health Commission.Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Novel Coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV) Infection (Trial Version 5). National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (February 4th, 2020). de44557832ad4be1929091dcbcfca891.pdf.

[[16]] General Office of National Health Commission.Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Novel Coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV) Infection (Trial Version 6). National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (February 18th,2020).

[[17]] General Office of National Health Commission.Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Novel Coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV) Infection (Trial Version 7). National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (March 4th 2020).

[[18]] General Office of National Health Commission.Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Novel Coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV) Infection (Trial Version 8). National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (August 19th 2020).

[[19]] W.Y. Pang, Q.Y. Wang, Z.G. Zhao. Development and progress of clinical trials of Coronavirus Disease 2019 antiviral drugs. Expet Rev Clin Pharmacol, 13 (9) ( 2020), pp. 945-956, DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2020.1803740

[[20]] B.G. Toresdahl, I.M. Asif. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): considerations for the competitive athlete. Sport Health, 12 (3) ( 2020), pp. 221-224, DOI: 10.1177/1941738120918876

[[21]] D. Santos-Ferreira, R. Tomas, H. Dores. TEAM to defeat COVID-19: a management strategy plan to address return to play in sports medicine. Orthop J Sports Med, 8 (9) ( 2020), DOI: 10.1177/2325967120951453. 2325967120951453

[[22]] J.P. Metz. Upper respiratory tract infections: who plays, who sits?. Curr Sports Med Rep, 2 (2) ( 2003), pp. 84-90, DOI: 10.1249/00149619-200304000-00007

[[23]] J.H. Hull, M. Loosemore, M. Schwellnus. Respiratory health in athletes: facing the COVID-19 challenge. Lancet Respir Med, 8 (6) ( 2020), pp. 557-558, DOI: 10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30175-2

[[24]] D. Chen, W. Xu, Z. Lei, et al.. Recurrence of positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA in COVID-19: a case report. Int J Infect Dis, 93 ( 2020), pp. 297-299, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.03.003

[[25]] S. Carmody, A. Murray, M. Borodina, et al.. When can professional sport recommence safely during the COVID-19 pandemic? Risk assessment and factors to consider. Br J Sports Med, 54 (16) ( 2020), pp. 946-948, DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102539

[[26]] N. Elliott, R. Martin, N. Heron, et al.. Graduated return to play guidance following COVID-19 infection. Br J Sports Med, 54 (19) ( 2020), pp. 1174-1175, DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102637

[[27]] J. Shurlock, B. Muniz-Pardos, R. Tucker, et al.. Recommendations for face coverings while exercising during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sports Medicine Open, 7 (19) ( 2021), pp. 1-8, DOI: 10.1186/s40798-021-00309-7

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Yawei Gong, Yingqi Zhao, and Ting Zhu for organization of data.