Twenty-eight members of the history-making women's football team, two track athletes and three boxers were among those tested for COVID-19 in capital Lusaka today.

Several coaches were also tested for COVID-19 at National Heroes Stadium.

Regular testing will follow ahead of the delegation's planned departure for a training camp in Asahi on July 7.

Titus Fernando, the doctor appointed Zambia's COVID-19 Liaison Officer for the Games, said athletes will be tested "at least every two weeks" for the virus under the screening programme, as the NOCZ seeks to abide by pre-departure guidelines outlined by Tokyo 2020 and the International Olympic Committee.  

Zambia's Olympians have also been offered a first does of a coronavirus vaccine, and are scheduled to get a second jab before arriving in Japan.

"As NOCZ we want to play our part to ensure that not only our athletes are protected but also those people they will interact with from time to time," NOCZ secretary general Boniface Kambikambi said.

"And so part of the process is to ensure that we monitor the athletes through the medical team on a day-to-day basis and do frequent testing to support curbing the spread of the virus." 

Kambikambi added that athletes' movements will also be monitored by the NOCZ in an effort to reduce the risk of the catching or spreading COVID-19.

"The issue with COVID-19 is that when one tests positive everyone gets affected in the bubble and so it's our intention that continue sensitising the athletes so that they stay safe."