Jodee Brown
Sprint legend, Usain Bolt, has become the latest high-profile name to test positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19), according to multiple reports on Monday.
This news comes just three days after the world’s fastest man and entrepreneur celebrated his 34th birthday with a lavish party organized by his long-time girlfriend, Kasi Bennett. Bolt was set to make a business trip this week and took a COVID test in preparation for the trip. However, the test reportedly a positive result and Bolt is now in self-isolation as a result.
Bolt himself confirmed the test on a social media post hours after the news broke, but said he has yet to receive official word from the Ministry of Health regarding his test results. He is asymptomatic and keeping away from loved ones at home.
Stay Safe my ppl 🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/ebwJFF5Ka9
— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) August 24, 2020
However, Jamaica’s health minister, Christopher Tufton, confirmed during a virtual presser on Monday evening that Bolt indeed tested positive and had been notified by the ministry of his result. Local authorities have now began contact tracing following the confirmation.
The aforementioned birthday party was attended by many notable names in the sports and entertainment world including star footballers, Raheem Sterling and Leon Bailey, as well as Ding Dong, Christopher Martin, Ricardo ‘Bibi’ Gardner, Munga and others.
Video footage from the party has been going viral since Friday, with many criticising party-goers for not wearing masks as well as expressing concerns given the recent uptick in local coronavirus cases. On Sunday alone, Jamaica recorded a single-day record 116 COVID-19 cases, taking the overall total to 1,529 since the outbreak reached the island in late March.
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