UCI and RCS Sport, organizers of the Giro d'Italia, announced that an Astana team staff member tested positive for COVID-19 during additional testing conducted during the third week of the Corsa Rosa.

UCI and RCS Sport confirmed that no players tested positive. A total of 484 rapid saliva antigen tests were performed on all athletes and staff from the 20 teams still in the race; PCR swab tests were performed in the Giro d'Italia mobile lab to confirm the saliva test results.

In accordance with the UCI's COVID-19 protocol, Astana's team physician placed the team in isolation and took the necessary measures regarding contact cases in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) regulations.

Astana has yet to confirm this positive case and announce whether other staff members were classified as close contact cases.

Simon Yates, Steven Kruijswijk, and Michael Matthews tested positive for COVID-19 early in the race, along with four staff members from the Mitchelton Scott team and one staff member from Ineos Grenadier and AG2R La Mondiale.

Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) and AG2R La Mondial staff left the race after testing positive for coronavirus on the second rest day, but both teams started Tuesday morning.

Race director Mauro Veni was forced to adhere to the race's coronavirus protocol after EF Pro Cycling sent a letter to organizers to cancel the race on the second rest day EF Pro Cycling's request was rejected by the UCI and EF Pro Cycling riders wanted the race to continue.

News of the letter came hours after it was revealed that 17 policemen from the Giro-E event, an electric bicycle event held each day prior to the arrival of the Giro, had tested positive for COVID-19. The Giro-E event was subsequently cancelled.

The Giro d'Italia continued on Thursday with stage 18 from Pinzolo to Laghi di Cancano via Passo dello Stelvio.