Miss World finale postponed as contestants test positive for Covid-19
San Juan, Dec 16 (EFE).- Miss World 2021 was postponed Thursday after Puerto Rico’s Department of Health reported that 23 of the 98 contestants tested positive for Covid-19.
Due to these infections, out of a total of 38, including technical staff, the Miss World organizers postponed the finale, which was scheduled for Thursday night at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum of Puerto Rico in San Juan, and will now be held within the next 90 days.
The entire team will remain in quarantine and testing will be carried out, according to the organization’s statement, which adds that the contestants and technical staff will return to their home countries once they are cleared by health officials and advisers.
The decision was made after consulting with the medical team that oversees the beauty pageant, and the health department, which the previous day had recorded 17 positive cases.
It had already been announced that fewer than expected public spectators would attend and that some contestants were going to participate virtually after testing positive for Covid-19, but the detection of new cases on Thursday led to the postponement of the finale.
“We are very much looking forward to the return of our contestants, (who we have grown to know and love), to compete for the Miss World crown,” said Julia Morley, CEO of Miss World, in a statement.
Covid-19 cases associated with public events have increased in the Caribbean island in recent days, and have also led to the temporary suspension of the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League.
The health department confirmed Thursday that there have been 39 cases among the League’s members, and 423 positive cases among those attending Bad Bunny’s concerts last weekend. EFE
jm/tw
