The International Cycling Union (UCI) announced that it has received reports of six more cases of coronavirus infection from teams participating in the UAE Tour. The six cases follow two cases last week in which two staff members of a team participating in a WorldTour race were infected.

On Wednesday, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that a total of 12 infected people had been found in the UAE touring contingent, with four riders affected and taken to hospital for medical support.

Cofidis and the Groupama-FDJ team confirmed that all players and staff members tested negative, but further infections from Gazprom Rusvelo and UAE Team Emirates team players and staff who were forced to stay in the UAE after the first infected person was confirmed It appears that more cases have been discovered.

La Gazzetta dello Sport, owned by the same company as UAE Tour organizer RCS Sport, reported that the four riders who tested positive for the virus included two Russians, an Italian, and a Colombian.

The UCI did not identify the four coronavirus-positive riders. However, Fernando Gaviria is suspected to be one of them; only two Colombian riders on the UAE tour, Hernando Bohorquez of Astana, were allowed to leave the country. Gaviria's family in Colombia told the El Tiempo website that they have no information on Gaviria and cannot speak to him. Gazprom rider Igor Boev confirmed to Russian media that he is in a hospital in the UAE.

The UCI confirmed that health authorities in the Emirates have decided to isolate all members of Cofidis, Groupama-FDJ, and Gazprom Rusvelo on the fourth floor of the team hotel until at least March 14.

"They will undergo further tests to ascertain their health status. In the meantime, the infected have been transported to the hospital and are undergoing close medical monitoring," the UCI said.

"We are in contact with the UAE authorities to ensure that the teams (athletes and staff) in isolation are kept in the best possible conditions (including good quality food and regular room cleaning).

The UCI added, "We continue to monitor the situation closely and are committed to ensuring that everyone involved returns home as soon as possible."

The UCI also stated, "The UCI continues to monitor the situation closely and is committed to ensuring that everyone involved returns home as soon as possible.

The UCI thanked the teams in Abu Dhabi "for their perseverance in this difficult situation and their contribution to the fight against the spread of the coronavirus, and spared no effort to support them in this important situation for the people of the world, including members of the cycling family. We will not hesitate to do so."