PRIOR to the Copa America kicking off last night, 11 players tested positive for Covid-19 upon arriving in Brazil. Eight were Venezuelans and three Bolivians, football bodies of the two countries said on Saturday.

Venezuela, which played the opener of the tournament last night against the hosts, summoned 15 new players for its squad. Three members of its coaching staff were also infected.

Its football federation said in a statement that all “are ready to join our group in Brazil later today.” Those infected were not named.

Later the Bolivian Football Federation said three players and one member of its coaching staff tested positive. It added all its infected personnel are in good health and isolated.

Bolivia's first match in the tournament will be tonight against Paraguay.

South American football body Conmebol stressed in a statement that “the matches will be played as scheduled.”

Brazil’s health minister Marcelo Queiroga said Venezuela players who have the virus will return only after they test negative.

“There will be no going and coming of players. Players who tested positive will quarantine,” Queiroga said. “If we had no possibility of positive cases we wouldn’t need rigorous protocols. Venezuela is lucky that they [can] bring other athletes.”