UK-based Covid screening company Cignpost Diagnostics said it had carried out over 1,500 coronavirus tests ahead of Saudi Arabia's first professional women’s golf tournaments, the Ladies International, to make the landmark event Covid-secure.

 

The $1-million Aramco Saudi Ladies International, presented by the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, kicked off on November 12 concludes tomorow (November 15), while the next tournament, $500,000 Saudi Ladies Team International takes place between November 17 and 19.

 

Cignpost Diagnostics, which provides the screening services for companies including BBC and the PGA Tour, is a joint venture between Cignpost, a company with a decade of experience providing healthcare solutions in the UK, and the Project Little Boat, a not-for-profit group providing vital services, equipment and tests for Covid-19.

 

The company said it has deployed its gold standard PCR tests to turn around screening results in as little as 70 minutes for the ground-breaking tournament including the event’s 110 elite players. 

 

Tournament staff and caddies will also receive regular testing, and additional measures will include daily symptom checking, sanitation and social distancing, it stated. 

 

These end-to-end screening measures have been implemented to ensure the health and safety of all involved with the ground-breaking event, with all aspects of player and staff safety overseen by independent specialists and experts including Dr Andrew Murray, a prominent expert in sport and physical activity policy, and medical advisor to the European Tour and Ladies European Tour Golf.

 

Dr Murray said: "Ladies European Tour and Saudi Golf have put the health and safety of the players and staff at the forefront of the Ladies Tournament preparations with their preparation and through the best in class service delivered by Cignpost."

 

"We’ve utilised robust risk assessment processes from the World Health Organisation to implement end-to-end screening measures based on international best practice. These include social distancing, enhanced hygiene, increased medical capacity and testing," he stated.

 

Nick Markham, the co-founder of Cignpost Diagnostics, said: "We’re proud to create a Covid-secure environment for the return of major international sporting events to the kingdom."

 

"With our gold standard PCR tests, players and staff can be confident in their health and safety and these elite women players can inspire the next generation of female golfers," he added.-TradeArabia News Service