The Brazilian Ministry of Health announced Monday that by Sunday, the first day of the South American tournament, 31 players and members of the Copa America delegation had tested positive for COVID-19.

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Another 10 cases have been confirmed among staff working in hotels where the players and their delegations stay in Brasilia, Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga told reporters.

Among the previously known cases were two members of the Colombia Delegation, as well as eight out Venezuela and three of Bolivia.

Further cases of infection were confirmed when the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) defended itself against allegations that the tournament, which was given to Brazil less than two weeks in advance, was cobbled together at the last minute.

Speak before their game against Chile, Argentina star Lionel Messi said the fear of pulling together Virus was widespread in the squad.

“It worries us because it is a risk for everyone to become infected with COVID-19,” he told reporters on Monday. “We’re trying to be careful, but it’s not easy. These things happen.”

“We’ll try to do everything we can so that no one gets it, but sometimes it doesn’t just depend on ourselves.”

Brazil was selected after Colombia was withdrawn due to a wave of unrest and co-hosts Argentina withdrawn due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. The oldest international tournament in the world, the Copa America final, will take place on July 10th at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Information from Reuters was used in this report.

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