In truly upsetting news, Shane Warne has tested positive for COVID-19 in London, where he’s currently coaching a team for England’s newly-launched cricket tournament, The Hundred.
A statement was released by the London Spirit club, where Warnie has been working as head coach for the men’s side in the new 100-ball competition, confirming that the 51-year-old cricket legend had returned a positive test on Sunday London time.
“London Spirit men’s head coach Shane Warne will be absent from today’s match against Southern Brave at Lord’s,” the statement read.
“After feeling unwell this morning, Shane returned a positive lateral flow test and will isolate from the squad and support staff whilst he awaits PCR results.
“A second member of the team management is self-isolating after also returning a positive test. No players have been impacted.”
“I had the Pfizer, I had to wait ’til they released it for over 50s so I could get it done,” he said.
“It made me feel extremely old but I’ve done it. I think that’s the thing here, they’re getting 50,000 odd cases a day here in England but because nearly 80 or 90 per cent of the population has been double vaxxed, they’re just getting on with it and learning to live it.”
Shane Warne’s positive COVID test comes after he urged others to get on with it and get vaccinated to help ease lockdown restrictions in Australia. He recognised that it’s “totally their call” if people don’t want to get the jab, but backed up his beliefs with how he’s seen England “learning to live” with COVID with more people becoming fully vaccinated.
“For all those people that don’t believe in it, as someone who’s witnessing over here in England with 50,000 cases a day, the country is opening because the majority of people have been double vaxxed,” he said.
“If you don’t get double vaxxed we will have more lockdowns it’s as simple as that. If you get vaxxed there’s more chance we’ll just live with it.”
Warnie is now in self-isolation in London, and will also miss London Spirit’s upcoming match against Northern Superchargers on Wednesday at Lord’s.
All adult Aussies (yep, even if those of us under 40) are currently able to get the safe and effective AstraZeneca vaccine through a GP. Talk to a doctor to see if it’s right for you.
Alternatively, you can triple-check to see if you’re eligible for the Pfizer vaccine here.
The best vaccine is the first one you can get, and that’ll be our ticket out of this mess.
